Pratibha Ranta on Playing Flawed Characters and Working with Cinema’s Big Names
Pratibha Ranta is quickly making a name for herself by choosing roles that have real depth. In the July cover story for Grazia India, the actor opened up about why she loves playing imperfect characters, what it is like working with top-tier directors, and how she keeps herself grounded.
Finding Beauty in the Imperfect
For Ranta, the appeal of acting lies in complexity. She mentioned that because all human beings are flawed, she is grateful that writers are creating layered characters. Playing them allows her to step into unfamiliar worlds and experience a wide range of emotions, which she finds incredibly rewarding.
Her journey to these complex roles was not overnight. Moving from television to films was a massive leap, especially since her family initially viewed the entertainment industry as unsafe and unfamiliar. While television gave her a start, she eventually felt her growth stalling. Her big break came with Laapataa Ladies, which happened to be the very first film she ever auditioned for.
Working with Meticulous Directors
Ranta has already shared sets with some of the industry’s most respected filmmakers, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kiran Rao, and Nikkhil Advani, the latter for the upcoming OTT series The Revolutionaries.
She praised their detail-oriented approach, noting that their intense passion for storytelling is infectious and deeply influences everyone on set. To handle the pressure of these major sets, Ranta has turned to nightly journaling. She credits this habit with helping her stay honest and fully surrender to the camera.
Handling Social Media and Staying Grounded
The actor also shared her perspective on modern stardom and social media. She views platforms like Instagram as a double-edged sword that gives actors more control over their image while preventing them from being easily typecast. It has also given her a space to experiment with her personal style and put her own spin on current fashion trends.
Off-screen, Ranta keeps her life remarkably normal. When she needs to unwind or clear her head, she relies on simple habits:
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Rearranging drawers around the house for a bit of therapeutic satisfaction.
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Hanging out with her cats, Mashu and Theo.
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Rewatching episodes of Fleabag.
When asked how she defines success, Ranta explained that she views it as a daily, step-by-step process built on consistency and careful foresight, rather than a sudden destination.
