Vedika Pinto: ‘I Still Feel Like I Have Miles To Go’

After nearly nine years of auditions, rejections and films that didn’t always get their due, Vedika Pinto is finally having her moment. Her turn as Sudha in Netflix’s Musafir Café has brought her the recognition she’s long deserved. In this candid chat, she talks about the highs and heartbreaks of an unconventional journey, playing characters far removed from herself and why she doesn’t resent star kids for having an easier entry.

Excerpts from the interview:

Musafir Café has earned you the recognition that should have come long back. Are you elated?

I’m really grateful and yes, elated. That’s the validation I seek as an actor. Having said that, I’m also conscious of not getting too comfortable — or worse, complacent. I’m allowing myself to enjoy it, but I’m equally excited to get back to work and earn it all over again.

You were exceptional in Nishaanchi, which I felt was Anurag Kashyap’s best work. Were you devastated by its failure?

Was I devastated? Of course. I was heartbroken. But with time, the heartbreak has faded. I got to play Rinku. No box-office result can take that away. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t believe the film will find its audience over time.

Your special song in Nishaanchi was a killer. Was it tough to do?

I spent months watching Sapna Chaudhary! To me, that was the gold standard and I had to get somewhere close.

The rehearsals and choreography weren’t the hard part. The toughest bit was the shoot day. I knew it was a pandal dance sequence with an orchestra, but I hadn’t processed that I’d be on stage, performing alone, in front of a couple of hundred men.

That must have been challenging?

I’ve grown up in a very protected, sheltered environment. So in that moment, I had to move far away from Vedika. I had to let go of my inhibitions and at the risk of sounding dramatic, even the morals I grew up with. That was the challenge. But by the end of the day, it almost felt like I’d rebelled against my own fears.

In comparison, Musafir Café seems like a cakewalk. Was it easy?

I wouldn’t call it a cakewalk. I get why it seems that way — Rinku was so far removed from who I am, while Sudha is someone I instinctively relate to. A huge part of that was director Ruchir Arun. He gave me freedom and encouraged me to bring parts of Vedika into Sudha. And writer Sharanya Rajagopal wrote her with so much depth and tenderness, drawing from her own self and experiences.

What made you say yes to this project?

I’ve always wanted to do a love story. When I read the script, I immediately felt there was so much to explore as an actor. Sudha had contradictions, vulnerability, humour, warmth, masti, chutzpah — all of it. I wanted to test myself in this genre. And the writing was beautiful. It stayed with me long after I finished reading it. That’s usually a very good sign.

Where do you go from here? And please don’t say Musafir Café Season 2.

I won’t say Musafir Café Season 2. Honestly, I still feel like I have miles to go. This journey has been incredibly rewarding. It’s taught me so much — not just about acting, but about myself. “I wanted to test myself in this genre. And the writing was beautiful. It stayed with me long after I finished reading it. That’s a good sign.”