Mumbai: Acclaimed Bollywood actress Pallavi Joshi is set to return to the silver screen with a powerful performance in "The Bengal Files", in which she essays the role of a 100-year-old woman.
Helmed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and jointly produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Joshi herself. This upcoming film promises to unearth lesser-known, often-neglected chapters of Indian history, told with the director's characteristic socio-political intensity.
Joshi, renowned for her portrayals steeped in emotional complexity, plays 'Maa Bharati' a character that serves as a symbolic embodiment of India's maternal spirit, nurturing yet wounded, timeless yet deeply human. But it was not easy to bring this role on screen, because it has many layers of emotions and showing each one truthfully was a big challenge for her.
“This was one of the biggest challenges. It’s difficult to look so old. Most prosthetics made me look scary. And that was our biggest challenge. The idea was for her to look innocent and lovable. Ma Bharati needed to be warm and approachable,” Joshi shared in a statement.
Joshi further added, “My only reference was my dadi. I remember her as very old but very sweet at the same time. We worked on the look for almost 6 months. I gave up all skin care during this period to make my skin appear dry. Every day, I sat down working on Ma Bharati’s character, her dementia, until it became a muscle memory. Our technical team also put their efforts into helping me to their fullest. And the end result is for all to see.”
'The Bengal Files' is scripted by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and boasts of a stellar ensemble cast featuring Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher and Darshan Kumar will be seen in the film.
The film is presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal and I Am Buddha banner, this film serves as the third installment in Agnihotri's acclaimed 'Films' trilogy, following the provocative "The Kashmir Files" and the widely debated 'The Tashkent Files'. The film will hit theatres on September 5, 2025.