EXCLUSIVE | 'Main Actor Nahin Hoon' actress Chitrangada Satarupa on working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui: 'Was a little nervous in the beginning because...'

There's a new film that's currently running in cinemas called Main Actor Nahin Hoon, which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Chitrangada Satarupa. The film is about a  struggling actor in Mumbai who connects with a retired banker in Frankfurt via online sessions. As their interactions deepen, they confront personal struggles and form a cross-continental bond.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, actress Chitrangada Satarupa spoke about working with a refined actor like Siddiqui, getting into the skin of the character, and being directed by Aditya Kripalani.

Edited excerpts from the interview

How did the role come your way, and what made you say yes to it?

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Aditya has been a long-term collaborator. My first Hindi film was also his first feature, Tikli and Lakshmi Bomb, and since then he’s trusted me a lot as an actor. We’ve worked together on a couple of other projects too, each more challenging than the last—mostly independent, performance-driven films.

So when this project came up, it felt like a natural progression. But since he was working with Nawaz sir, he wanted to audition me and do a proper test. The film itself was quite complex—it was being shot live across two cities at the same time—so he was looking for someone who could handle that kind of process.

I was a little surprised at first thinking “do I still need to audition”, given our history of working on so many challenging projects, but I was more than happy to audition, especially because I really wanted to work with Nawaz sir. Then he shared the full script before the audition which is very rare in this industry and I was absolutely hooked to story. It was such great writing. I instantly connected with it, especially with Mouni. She’s such a layered, nuanced character, rare to come by.

I took a few days to prepare and really immersed myself in it. By the time I went in, it wasn’t even about getting the part. I just wanted to live the character fully for that audition.

It went really well, and I walked out feeling satisfied, regardless of the outcome. Later, he called me to his office and initially said it didn’t work out. I took it quite calmly, but within seconds he broke and said, “I can’t act anymore. You’re Mouni. You’re the one.”

How did you prepare for the character, and was there anything about the process that surprised you?

I approached the film like a theatre performance because everything was happening live, with long takes and very conversational scenes. It gave me the feeling of being on stage, so I prepared for it the way I would for a play—really internalising the lines and staying in character.

Mouni, as a character, is relatable and layered, but also extremely complex. It’s very easy to judge her—for the bitterness she carries as an artist, her puritanical approach, her heightened rhythm, and her physical and habitual traits, like being asthmatic and alcoholic. So I spent a lot of time building her backstory and understanding her with empathy rather than judgement. I worked on finding her rhythm, which is very different from mine, and most importantly, focused on her breathing—I believe every character breathes differently, and for Mouni, that was a crucial part of shaping her.

What really surprised me was the improvisation. Aditya had asked me to design two scenes like improv pieces, which felt intimidating at first but also incredibly freeing. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realise that sometimes you don’t know what you’re capable of until you actually step into it. And I do feel those two scenes will surprise and move the audience.

How was your experience working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and what did you take away from collaborating with him?

Working with Nawaz sir was truly amazing—honestly, all the superlatives apply. Of course, I was a little nervous in the beginning, especially because my character is quite sharp and snappy towards his. I kept wondering how I would approach that.

Aditya had intentionally not introduced us before the shoot, so the first time I met Nawaz sir was actually on set, in the scene, right after “action” was called. I had no idea what to expect—how he would be as a co-actor—so there was a lot of anticipation.

But he’s such a giving actor. His improvisations and little nuances made the scenes come alive, and it really brought out the best in me. It felt like a great tennis match—constantly responding to each other.

We didn’t interact much off-camera initially, so I even wondered if he didn’t like me, since he mostly saw me in character. But when we did speak, he was incredibly warm, and we had some lovely conversations about cinema and craft. I also later found out that he spoke very highly of me in interviews, which truly meant a lot. It honestly felt like no award could be bigger than that, having an actor you admire, look upto, appreciate your work so openly.

What I really took away was his professionalism and humility. He never interferes, fully trusts the director, and is so respectful to everyone on set. Despite his stature, he came in without any entourage and adapted so effortlessly to an indie setup—that was truly inspiring.

Looking back, what have been some of the key highs and challenging moments in your journey as an actor?

I think the biggest highs in my journey have been the people I’ve met and collaborated with, and the kind of characters I’ve had the opportunity to play. None of the roles have ever felt easy or half-baked—in fact, they’ve only become more layered, nuanced, and challenging over time. That really fulfills me as an actor. I’m always hungry for work that pushes me, and with every stage, I feel like I’ve grown.

In terms of challenges, the journey itself is the biggest one. The moment I moved from Kolkata to Mumbai , I knew what I was signing up for. There have been long phases with no work, and I used to believe that a strong performance would naturally lead to more opportunities—but that’s not always how it works.

It can be tough and really tests your patience. But it has also made me realise how deeply I love the craft. No matter how challenging it gets, it’s not easy to break me. I know I’ll keep acting, always.

Coming from outside the industry, this feels like a big moment. How does it feel to arrive at a film like this through your own path?

I think today there’s a strong trend towards larger-than-life cinema—action, scale, heightened emotions, which is fair, as it’s a genre loved by a certain audience. But for viewers like me, who enjoy stories about human relationships, psychology, and quiet, conversational spaces, it’s been a while since we’ve seen that in theatres.

That’s where this film stands out. It feels like a breath of fresh air—intimate, layered, and rooted in human connection. While it’s set in the world of acting, it opens up deeper themes like loneliness, mental health and undefined relationships.

It’s also unique in its form—two characters interacting over a video call, shot live across two countries—making it a very experimental and fresh approach.

And when a conversational drama truly engages you, there’s nothing like it. I feel this film will definitely find its audience, especially those who’ve been waiting for this kind of cinema.