Ansh Duggal on the Nakhrewaalii role that changed him
The Don't Be Shy star on stripping away vanity for his comical role as Sumit in Nakhrewaalii, in theatres 30 October.
Ansh Duggal made his mark as the sweet-natured Dhruv in Don’t Be Shy. With Nakhrewaalii, he is stepping into something altogether sharper: Sumit, a comical part that asked him to rethink how he presents himself on screen.
The mirror became the first test
The physical transformation looked, on paper, simple enough: a change of clothing. In practice, Duggal told Bollywood Hungama that the process was harder than he had imagined. Looking into the mirror and seeing someone he barely recognised was a jarring shift for an actor used to controlling his image.
“As an actor, you have to strip away all your vanity,” he said. The role demanded he release the self-consciousness that usually accompanies being observed and judged.
What the role taught him
He did not stay stuck on appearance. By the end, Duggal said the more important shift was internal. He summarised the arc in his own words: “I went into this film thinking I was going to play a woman. I came out of it understanding a little more about what it means to be one.”
That line matters because it recasts the part as an exercise in empathy, not just mimicry. In a star-led industry that often rewards image management, that kind of admission stands out. It suggests Nakhrewaalii is not simply trading on a gimmick, but on the discomfort that a solid comic performance can mine.
Why this one is worth marking
- Nakhrewaalii releases in theatres on 30 October, putting it squarely on the radar for fans planning their next big-screen watch.
- Duggal’s transformation is already becoming the talking point, especially for viewers who loved his Don’t Be Shy energy.
- The role asks audiences to see everyday experiences differently, which could give the comedy a longer half-life beyond the jokes.
Stepping into a role that alters your reflection can be a shortcut to honesty, because there is no polished version left to hide behind. For Bollywood Society readers, the takeaway is straightforward: when an actor says a role changed them, the performance usually carries an extra layer. Duggal says he is proud to be part of a story that could shift how people view these lived experiences, and that the transformation he treasures most is not the one you will see on screen.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com
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