Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Shriya Pilgaonkar Interview: Women in Amazon Prime Video’s Mirzapur aren’t portrayed as passive characters

Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar, the daughter of accomplished actors Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar, is working diligently to create her own mark in showbiz. Last seen in Yash Raj Films’ 2016 release Fan, co-starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the actress is now gearing up for the premiere of her Amazon Prime Video Original Mirzapur, wherein she plays a strong headed girl called Sweety Gupta. Also featuring a diverse cast of actors including Pankaj Tripathi, Shweta Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Vikrant Massey, among others, the digital series has been the talk of the town ever since the makers revealed its posters and teaser a couple of days before.

Recently, our Mumbai correspondent, Mohnish Singh, sat down with Shriya for a candid conversation. In this interview with Eastern Eye, the promising actress talks in length about her character in Mirzapur, how streaming media giants like Amazon Prime Video help actors reach a wider set of audience and why she would like to focus more on films than television. Excerpts...


Shriya, brief us about your character in Amazon Prime Video Original Mirzapur.

In Mirzapur, I play the character of Sweety Gupta a.k.a Swarangini Gupta. She is the daughter of a cop, who falls in love with the right guy who chooses the wrong path. It’s a very, very interesting character simply because it’s not at all stereotypical.

Sweety is a fearless girl. No one can intimidate her, not even the man she is in love with. It’s a very non-judgmental character, I would say. She has a sister and both are diametrically opposite from each other. People around her are different. She is a very strong headed girl. She can be very stubborn at times. She embraces the challenges that she faces and the way she deals with them is very special. Most importantly, all women in Mirzapur are not portrayed as passive characters. We all in our own way contribute to the plot even if the screen time might not be as much as the men have. Every one of us women is in touch with our sexual desires, we are opinionated and we add very refreshing elements to the series.

Do you think that when actors star in a web-series which boasts of huge mass appeal, it somewhere helps them boost their stardom and get more media attention?

Because my parents also belong to the industry, media attention has never been an alien thing for me. I would also like to say that media attention is not equal to success. Having said that, for some people, the whole world is too new and they feel like they have arrived. But for me, media attention was something I knew would come along if I do good work. But handling that success is something that is not everybody’s cup of tea. How do you remain true to yourself when you are put in a situation like that is something not everyone knows. And though I also did a Marathi film, a French film and a Hindi film called Fan (2016) and my other work will now come out this year and next year, I would say my journey has been slow and steady and that now the speed is gaining momentum.

When you work on a digital platform, your relatability factor enhances. I don’t take up digital projects because it will fetch more followers to my Instagram. But if as an actor, I like something, I will do it. I choose my project irrespective of the medium they will premiere on. Things like stardom are not in your hands, so I never try to focus much on that because you never know when things start changing suddenly.

Do you feel things would have been a little different for you had your debut film Fan with Shah Rukh Khan worked well at the box-office?

I definitely feel that though my work was appreciated in the movie, its success would have made much of a difference because today even if you are a small part of a successful film than a big role in an unsuccessful movie, people see your marketability in a different way. It’s not just acting today; marketability plays a major role in your career. Before a film releases, the stars are created and we see that happen so often these days. Everyone’s journey is different, but yes things would have been different if Fans had worked back then. Having said that, I am happy where I am and with what is there in the store.

There are many actors who are okay with working on digital platforms, but the same people are reluctant to work on television. What do you think is the reason?

Time commitment, I would say, because a lot of shows last for years and years. Secondly, I think is content. My mother still does television, but she makes sure she picks up shows that are really good. Most of the shows on television cater to certain formal that works wonders and the fandom that you see on television is crazy. The only reason why I am not drawn to television is because nothing has come my way that I like and plus my focus is films right now. I am open to digital content because you shoot it within a certain timeframe.

But the makers have announced the second season of Mirzapur?

But it’s not going to take my entire year as opposed to television.

Do you think that since everything is available online, television is dying a slow death in India?

No, it cannot happen. It can never happen because we do have a lot of the audience which still watches television.

Produced by Excel Entertainment, Mirzapur premieres on 16th November only on Amazon Prime Video.

More For You

Cardi B shocks Paris Couture Week with live crow and bold Schiaparelli look

Cardi B poses with a live crow outside the Petit Palais in Paris

Instagram/lamodemagazine__

Cardi B shocks Paris Couture Week with live crow and bold Schiaparelli look

Quick highlights:

  • Cardi B appeared at Schiaparelli’s Autumn 2025 couture show in Paris holding a live crow on her arm.
  • Her dramatic black gown was designed by Daniel Roseberry, Schiaparelli’s creative director.
  • The surreal look paid tribute to Elsa Schiaparelli’s legacy of theatrical, boundary-pushing fashion.
  • The show marked a shift in Roseberry’s aesthetic, away from corsetry towards freer silhouettes.

Paris Couture Week opened on a dramatic note this year as Cardi B made a startling entrance at the Petit Palais wearing a black Schiaparelli gown, with a live crow perched on her arm. The rapper’s appearance outside the venue sent photographers scrambling as the bird flapped and squawked, setting the tone for a show rooted in tension, elegance, and surrealism.

The outfit, crafted by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli’s Autumn 2025 collection, featured graphic fringe and a towering beaded neckline. But it was the crow, alive, glaring, and restless, that stole the spotlight, embodying the fashion house’s long-standing obsession with the unexpected.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor joins growing criticism of Prada’s uncredited use of Indian design

Getty Images

Kareena Kapoor mocks Prada with her ‘OG Kolhapuri’ post as fashion giant faces backlash over copied design

Quick highlights:

  • Kareena Kapoor posted a cheeky Instagram Story flaunting Kolhapuri chappals, saying, “Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri.”
  • Her post follows outrage over Prada’s ‘toe-ring sandals’ resembling the Indian Kolhapuri design.
  • A PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court against Prada for unauthorised use of the Kolhapuri style without credit.
  • Prada acknowledged the inspiration and agreed to meet Indian artisans for dialogue.

Kareena Kapoor took a subtle yet sharp swipe at luxury fashion label Prada amid growing controversy around its recently launched ‘toe-ring sandals’, a design that closely mirrors India’s traditional Kolhapuri chappals. Without naming the brand, Kareena shared a photo of her feet in silver Kolhapuri slippers during her London vacation and captioned it: “Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri ❤️.”

The actor’s post struck a chord with many online, surfacing just days after Prada came under fire for allegedly copying the Kolhapuri design without acknowledgment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield  at Wimbledon

Garfield and Barbaro twin in Ralph Lauren for their most public appearance yet

Instagram/voguemagazine

Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield quietly confirm relationship with Wimbledon appearance

Quick highlights:

  • Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro stepped out in matching Ralph Lauren looks at Wimbledon 2025.
  • The couple shared affectionate moments courtside, including hand-holding and a cheek kiss.
  • They were first linked romantically in February after being spotted at a London play.
  • The pair may reunite on screen in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Artificial.

Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro made their most public appearance yet as a couple on Sunday, arriving hand-in-hand at Wimbledon 2025 in coordinated white ensembles and sharing subtle yet sweet moments of affection. The actors, who were first rumoured to be dating in February, looked completely in sync as they entered the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on 6 July. Dressed in matching Ralph Lauren outfits, the two smiled for cameras and appeared relaxed throughout the day.

  Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro arrive hand in hand at Wimbledon in all whiteInstagram/voguemagazine

Keep ReadingShow less
Kantara Chapter

Rishab Shetty battles through flames in new Kantara Chapter 1 poster

‘Kantara Chapter 1’ poster released on Rishab Shetty’s birthday, confirms October 2025 theatrical date

Quick highlights:

  • Kantara: Chapter 1, the much-awaited prequel to the 2022 blockbuster, releases in cinemas on 2 October 2025.
  • Poster unveiled on Rishab Shetty’s 42nd birthday shows him in an intense warrior avatar.
  • The film explores the divine origins of Panjurli and Guliga, expanding the Kantara mythology.
  • Massive action sequences filmed with 3,000 participants over 50 days make it one of India’s biggest productions.

Rishab Shetty gave fans a fierce first glimpse into Kantara: Chapter 1 on his 42nd birthday, unveiling a new poster that shows him in full warrior mode. The upcoming prequel to the 2022 Kannada hit Kantara is now officially set to release on 2 October 2025. Directed and headlined once again by Shetty, the film is expected to dive deep into the spiritual and mythological roots of the original story.

   Kantara Chapter 1 poster  Instagram/rishabshettyofficial  

Keep ReadingShow less
Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik shares a moody preview of his upcoming song Fuchsia Sea

Getty Images

Zayn Malik raps about racism he experienced as Asian member of One Direction in "Fuchsia Sea"

Quick highlights:

  • Zayn Malik previewed a new track, Fuchsia Sea, on Instagram, touching on racism he experienced during his One Direction years.
  • “They still laughed at the Asian,” he raps, alluding to feeling othered despite success.
  • Malik was the only South Asian member of the band, which included Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and the late Liam Payne.
  • The track marks a rare public reflection on the racial dynamics behind his 2015 departure from the group.

Zayn Malik is turning to music to process the discrimination he says he experienced during his time with One Direction. On Saturday, 5 July, the 32-year-old singer previewed a raw and emotional rap song titled Fuchsia Sea, sharing a clip and lyrics on Instagram that many fans believe directly address racism he faced as the only South Asian member of the global boy band.

In the verse, Malik raps: “I worked hard in a White band, and they still laughed at the Asian.” The line immediately sparked intense conversation online, with listeners pointing out how it echoed long-suspected tensions about racial identity and representation during his tenure in One Direction.

Keep ReadingShow less