EXCLUSIVE | Netflix's 'Raat Akeli Hai 2' actress Chitrangda Singh on cinema changing post OTT: 'We would have never seen Sacred Games, The Family Man and...'

Chitrangda Singh has been a part of the Hindi film industry for two decades. She has shone in darker roles and continues to dabble with different characters, and the arrival of OTT has expanded her horizons. 2025 has been a fruitful year for Singh as she proudly sits on monikers like Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, Housefull 5, and another film called Parikrama.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Chitrangda Singh spoke about the responses she has received for Raat Akeli Hai 2 , how 2025 has turned out to be her star year, how cinema is changing after the arrival of OTT, and what we can expect from her new film Battle Of Galwan with Salman Khan.

Edited excerpts from the interview

Raat Akeli Hai 2 is one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year. Were you expecting such a response?

Is that true? I couldn’t have asked for a better year. And I couldn’t have asked for a better year ending. This has probably been my star year.

How would you describe 2025 as a year in general?

This has been the most satisfying year for me as an actor because even if not everything got the kind of praise I wish it had got, I still got to play different characters. Very grateful and very happy. And I feel content as an actor.

Raat Akeli Hai 2 opens with a shot of your eyes and then you discovered something traumatic has happened. There is something mysterious about your character. How would you describe Meera?

I love Meera, because she is one of those women who could be this innocent and happy girl, but she happens to be stuck in the world which is about rich and powerful, and about being corrupted. At heart, she’s still someone who’s very alone and vulnerable. But she hardens up for the responsibility that comes her way. I loved that range.

There’s a lot of intensity in your scenes with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. How would you describe your chemistry with him in the film?

I wish I had more chemistry (laughs). I loved it. I have been wanting to work with Nawaz for a very long time. I am so happy it finally happened. The chemistry was amazing, and also it’s important to follow what’s written. When you put two actors in a frame, that chemistry is either there or not there. Honey and everyone was very happy to see the two of us together because the equation between us was very interesting. And his character is quite powerless in front of Meera, he doesn’t leave his ground.

You have displayed shades of grey many films. Are you able to detach yourself as an actor easily? Do you carry your characters back home?

I find the grey very interesting. Even a good human being will have an evil thought. If you’re only good or bad all the time, it’s boring. Even a drug dealer will come back home and talk to his mom, will cry. Those are the moments that make you human. The greyness are actually your most human moments. I really relish them and enjoy playing them. I don’t know if I can detach or not but I don’t find that difficult.

What do you feel are your strengths as an actor?

I think I have a certain presence that works for me, and the fact that I am a slightly restrained actor. It sets me apart from others probably. There is certain kind of a performance that I give as an actor. I can be a girl and I can also be a woman. I can be soft, but I can also be confident, but then I’m also very vulnerable. I am capable of going between these extremes.

Who was the first person who told you that you look like Smita Patil?

It was the first screening of Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi and Ketan Mehta, who had done a lot of work with Smita Patil, especially Mirch Masala, told me this.

What would you like to see about the way cinema is changing, especially after the arrival of OTT? Do you feel we are now making better and braver stories?

This is a conversation that is happening everywhere. This is the best thing that could have happened to the industry. We have found a lot of new talent only because of OTT. We wouldn’t have been able to see such stories if it was only about the big screens. We would have never seen Sacred Games. We would have never seen The Family Man. We would have never seen Raat Akeli Hai.

You now go in a completely different direction with Battle Of Galwan with Salman Khan. What can we expect?

You can expect a commercial heroine completely doing the song and dance (laughs). There are a lot of strong performance scenes from my character. I’m really looking forward to it.