A rebel sex worker

That’s what model Ritisha Vijayvargiya plays in her film debut with Deepti Naval

Ramp model Ritisha Vijayvargiya, who was seen as the roaming on-the-site anchor for nearly 39 episodes of  reality show ‘Shabhash India’ (Zee) is now making her acting debut with ‘Rivaaz’ directed by Ashok Kumar Nanda. The chirpy model/hostess plays a charming nubile village girl who is being initiated into prostitution as part of the social tradition.

Wasn’t it too early for Ritisha to accept such an intense complex role, that too with a taboo undercurrent for her maiden movie? “On the contrary, I feel I am so lucky to bag this role of an innocent rebel sex worker right at the start of my acting career,” says Ritisha. “Simply because this is one character almost every other female actor waits patiently to get, maybe after she has put in over three or even seven years in showbiz.

Moreover, it was a challenge being pitted against such established stalwart names like Deepti Naval, Saadhika Randhawa, Reema Lagoo, Vijay Raaz, Rajendra Gupta, Alok Nath and Sayaji Shinde and yet steal the show. There are several scenes where I have no dialogues but it was by facial expression and body language that I could emote,” she justifies. 

But did she not miss out on the romantic undercurrent as a newcomer? “In fact, there is a sensitive love-at-first-sight track between this urban boy (played by Manoj Biddvai) who drops in at the village. Our romantic track later triggers off a collective female revolution against the rampant mandatory ‘flesh trade’,” discloses Ritisha, who apparently shared a close bonding with her co-star Deepti Naval.

“When I was first told that a seasoned senior actor like Deeptiji would be playing my screen mother, I was rather jittery. But to my surprise she actually treated me like her laadli beti even off-screen Which helped me give my best shots thanks to her moral support, because I have not gone through any formal acting course,” she shrugs, adding,
“It’s quite strange that having co-hosted a reality show (with Hussain Kuwajerwala) on TV showcasing outstanding stunts and feats, I am now featured in reality cinema,” she states as a parting shot.