Rakshanda Khan Talks About Working with Child Artists

Rakshanda Khan, currently seen in Yash and Mamta Patnaik’s Dhakad Beera, has been sharing the screen with some of the youngest talents in the industry, and she couldn’t be more thrilled. “So, obviously, we had the really tiny kids, and it was fabulous fun shooting with Choti Kishmish. Interestingly, Choti Kishmish was actually a boy, and he was completely, absolutely adorable,” Rakshanda says. But as any actor knows, working with children comes with its own set of challenges. “Shooting with a child that age is fun, but it requires patience and planning. Eventually, the story had to progress further, so we took a leap, and now we have what we jokingly call, Medium Kishmish. I’m sure even this Kishmish will grow up eventually,” she adds. The actor is amazed by the dedication of her young co-stars. “Shooting with these kids is not just fun—it’s a riot. Samrat is 11, and Kishmish is just 4, but the amount of preparation they bring is incredible. We rarely need retakes because they forget their lines—they are that precise. With 20 years of experience, I feel I cannot match their dedication.” This project also marks Rakshanda’s first collaboration with Inspire Films. She admits she had been offered shows with Yash and Mamta twice before, but things hadn’t aligned until now. “I’m glad I finally got the chance to work with them, and that too on a character that is so intense and layered,” she says. Rakshanda also highlights the depth of her character, Bhavri Devi. “When I first met Mamta for Bhavri’s narration, I could see she was 110% invested. Bhavri is not one-dimensional—she has depth, complexity, and nuance. The way Mamta has envisioned her, there’s so much for the audience to experience.” With months of workshops, dialect training, and guidance from director Sangeeta, Rakshanda feels well-prepared. “We decided to bring our own flavor to Bhavri Devi rather than follow any other character references closely,” she explains. For Rakshanda, the appeal of Dhakad Beera is clear: “Bhavri is unlike anything I’ve done before. She is passionate, strong-willed, and multidimensional. Her love for her grandson is absolute, and that positivity balances her firm beliefs. It’s exciting to play a completely rural character, which is a departure from my previous urban roles.”