Deepshikha Nagpal recently opened up in a deeply emotional and candid conversation on SCREEN. Known for her memorable work in films like Koyla and Baadshah, and numerous television shows, the actress shared untold stories about the silent battles she fought off-screen. While audiences admired her performances, very few knew about the weight she carried behind the applause.
During the interview, Deepshikha fondly remembered working alongside Shah Rukh Khan. She described those days as some of the most exciting moments of her career. However, the conversation soon turned personal as she spoke about the unexpected consequences of playing negative characters. Deepshikha revealed that after her role in Baadshah, she was only offered similar antagonistic roles. The offers kept coming, but the social response was far from kind.
She confessed how deeply those judgments wounded her. Deepshikha shared, “After Baadshah, I was offered only negative roles. I didn’t want to do those because people started judging me. Back then, negative roles weren’t respected. ‘Yeh toh side actress hai, bure kaam karti hai.’ You don’t want to hear that when you’re living in this society.” The words echoed the harsh reality of how public perception can shape an artist’s career.
Even on television, where Deepshikha gained immense popularity, the situation remained the same. She explained how her role in Koyla wasn’t truly villainous, as Bindya was a woman in love with Shah Rukh Khan’s character who even tried to save Madhuri Dixit’s role. Yet, because she was associated with the antagonist, the label stuck. In Baadshah, her character’s connection to the villain ensured the same outcome. Despite negative roles being creatively satisfying, she admitted hating them because of the relentless judgment. Constantly having to explain herself wore her down.
Away from the cameras, the impact was even harsher. Deepshikha spoke about how personal criticism cut deeper than any professional challenge. She recalled the isolation she felt after losing both her parents, leaving her without a support system. Relatives were quick to pass cruel remarks. During the pandemic, reflection brought clarity. She realized that no one appreciated her achievements. Instead, she was met with scorn.
She recounted being told, “What have you done? Tumne toh kapde utaare iss film mein… Tum toh aise ho, tumhare bacche tumko respect nahi karenge.” The judgment from those closest to her planted insecurities she carried for years. She admitted questioning her choices, even regretting participating in films like Koyla and Baadshah. It reached a point where she avoided telling anyone about her projects.
The actress shared a painful memory about how her own daughter reacted. Out of hurt and confusion, her daughter would break CDs of Koyla. It shattered Deepshikha’s confidence. She confessed, “I felt like a failure as an actor, in my marriage, everywhere. I was broken inside. I eventually learned that there’s no market for your sorrow, so I never carried that baggage to work. Acting became my escape. It helped me heal.”
Her journey through judgment and rumors shaped her into a stronger person. Deepshikha remembered her strict father, a man who allowed no room for mistakes. Living under constant scrutiny, even a rumor or a dinner invitation was enough to fuel gossip. She would cry in silence, overwhelmed by baseless assumptions. “Even if I went for a meeting and the door was shut, I would get very anxious, I would think what people would be thinking outside,” she said.
A turning point came during the shooting of Barsaat Ki Raat in Manali. Learning that a well-known actor was spreading lies about a dinner meeting left her furious. She confronted him directly. “I went and yelled at him when I confronted him, and he got so scared. That day Deepshikha changed, since that day I started screaming.” From that moment, she refused to stay silent.
Deepshikha’s story is one of quiet resilience. Behind the glamour and fame, she carried wounds no one saw, and it was through sheer will that she broke free.
