Girija Oakwho has made a name for herself in both the Marathi and Hindi film industries, explains how ethnicity and physical appearance can influence casting decisions in the entertainment industry. He noted that such perceptions can work both ways, sometimes giving artists an advantage when it comes to collecting papers, and sometimes working against them.
Girija oak tree He calls performing ethnicity a “strange game of perception”.
In an interview to PTI, the actor said, “I haven’t done any Marathi work in the past few years, and lately, more Hindi projects have come my way. I’ve always been offered various roles. I may not look Maharashtrian, or maybe I do to some people. Sometimes your ethnicity can work for you, and sometimes against you. It’s a strange game of perception.”
Girija Oak’s journey from ‘Taare Zameen Par’ to ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’
Over the years, Girija Oak has built an impressive body of work in both Marathi and Hindi cinema. Some of his notable projects include ‘Goshta Choti Dongraevadhi’, ‘Gulmohar’, ‘Baji’, ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Shor in the City’, ‘Jawan’ and ‘Inspector Zende’. They were last seen in the recently released film ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’.
Girija Oak’s casting in ‘Perfect Family’ shatters industry stereotypes
Girija Oak cited her casting in the 2025 series Perfect Family as a perfect example of how industry stereotypes can be broken. Renowned casting director Mukesh Chhabra spoke on the show and believes that this casting choice went against the usual norms and expectations in the industry.
Girija Oak on playing a Punjabi character in ‘Perfect Family’: ‘At the end of the day, it depends on how people perceive me’
In the series, Girija Oak plays the role of Neeti Karkaria, a daughter who finds herself caught in the middle of the tensions and complications of a dysfunctional Punjabi family. Talking about how her ethnicity has influenced her casting over the years, she said, “Some consider me a Maharashtrian character because I speak the language well and mix it with ‘Bambaiya Hindi.’ So, if language and appearance are the only considerations, it ultimately depends on how people perceive me. But overall, it’s worked out for me.” The 38-year-old actress was recently offered the role of the mother of a 40-year-old male lead, which came as a surprise to her. She recounted a contrasting experience, recalling that filmmaker Atlee, during the casting process for Jawan, told her that she looked very young and very suitable. Shah Rukh Khanthe core group of the film.
Girija Oak bringing a new audience to ‘Inspector Zende’: ‘Cross-pollination between villages is the best reward’
Reflecting on the uncertainty of how she’s perceived in the industry, Oak said, “So I don’t know how I’m perceived, where I fit in age, ethnicity, region.” In Jawan, she played the role of Iskra, one of the six female bodyguards who made up the surveillance team working alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s character in the 2023 action thriller. The actor was also grateful for his role in Inspector Zende, where he starred opposite Manoj Bajpayee, saying the project brought him a new wave of recognition and introduced him to a new audience. He said: “Suddenly, a section of the audience has seen my work, and a new audience has connected with me. The best result of this is that I do a lot of theater, and every time I have a show, at least three people come up to me and say, ‘We’re seeing theater for the first time because we saw it on social media or one of your films.’ So this kind of cross-pollination is the best reward.”
Girija Oak has received much fame for her performance as a nurse in ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’
Girija Oak is currently being praised by audiences and critics alike for her powerful portrayal of a nurse in “Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata”, which opened in theaters on Friday. The film tells the heart-wrenching and moving story of the nurses and nannies of Cama Hospital, who silently and courageously played a crucial role in saving lives during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. The film is directed by Kangana Ranaut and also stars Smita Tambe and Esha Dey as the nurse, and written and directed by Manoj Tapadia. To ensure their performances were as authentic and realistic as possible, Oak and her co-stars, including Ranaut, Tambe and Dey, went through intensive workshops before the shoot. Real nurses were brought on set to train the actors in the finer details of the medical profession, such as how to handle syringes, properly set up injections and saline drips, Tambe revealed.
Esha Dey has visited the hospital to prepare for her role in ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’
Esha Dey shared that she took it upon herself to personally visit a hospital and talk to real nurses and hospital staff to prepare for her assignment. He was deeply moved to see how humble and camera-shy these real-life heroes were, completely unused to being in the spotlight. Expressing her feelings, she said, “I feel grateful that we are representing people like this, who are unable to speak for themselves because no one has really recognized their work. We always remember the doctors but we don’t remember which nurse was there during my birth.” ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’ is produced by PEN Studios, Manikarnika Films and Paramhans Creations in association with Eunoia Films LLP and Floating Rocks Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
