It’s not just about staying relevant for the audience, but also about evolving for your own growth: Roop Durgapal

Mumbai: Balika Vadhu fame actress Roop Durgapal, who made her OTT debut with Sankalp, believes in an industry that is constantly evolving; reinvention is for an artist. She said, “I think reinvention begins with rediscovering yourself as an artist and also as a human being. Who we are as people reflects in our performances.”
“Our experiences, values, and ethics somehow find their way into our work. So if we continue to grow as human beings and keep learning new tools, techniques, and experiences in life, that growth automatically shows in our craft as well. It’s not just about staying relevant for the audience, but also about evolving for your own growth,” she added.
She also mentioned that there have been phases in her career when she felt the need to grow and explore something different. She said, “I wouldn’t necessarily call it reinventing myself completely, because I believe your core identity should remain intact. But there are moments in life that push you to reflect and realign yourself.”
She shared that COVID was one of the biggest shifts for her. She said, “During that time many people started thinking deeply about their lives—what more they want to do, what needs to change, and what new things they can explore. Sometimes it also happens when you feel you are not getting the kind of opportunities that satisfy you creatively. That is when you start working more on your craft, learning new skills and adding new experiences to your life.”

For Roop, reinvention is about rediscovering. She said, “When you grow as a person and as an artist, that change naturally reflects in your work. You cannot drastically change your on-screen image while remaining exactly the same off-screen. Both go hand in hand. When you add new experiences, learnings, and growth to your life, the audience’s perception of you also gradually evolves.”
Roop has been in the industry for quite some time and takes it as a compliment if the audiences get attached to a particular image of an actor. She said, “It means you have done your work so well that people remember you for it. Unless a performance has truly touched people, it’s very difficult for them to even remember an actor.”
However, she pointed out that breaking that perception can be challenging. She said, “If you are a good actor, you are capable of stepping into different roles. Every challenge brings learning and growth, and I believe that with time and the right opportunities, actors can definitely break those molds.”
She concluded by sharing that with the entertainment landscape changing so rapidly today, the key to adapting is staying rooted in one’s principles and values. “Every individual operates with certain ethics and boundaries in life. If you remain clear about what your values are and continue working within those boundaries, then it becomes easier to adapt to change without losing yourself. Reinvention should never mean losing your core identity. Your foundation as a person should always remain the same,” Roop said.