Konkani cinema is increasingly taking centre stage at film festivals, while Goan artists are gaining wider exposure through theatre, films, and web series. Goans have long been an integral part of Indian cinema and theatre, but the rise of social media has made their contributions more visible. Today, numerous Goan actors are leaving a strong impression across television serials, feature films, and digital platforms.
One promising name in theatre and films is that of Prajakta Kavlekar whose Konkani film ‘Aai Saiba’ has completed 100 successful shows, marking a significant milestone for Goan cinema. Prajakta wears multiple hats, and in ‘Aai Saiba’ she was the casting director. In the Netflix web series ‘Taskare’ released on January 14, she worked as an assistant director. And her latest film ‘Happy Patel’ was just released on January 16.
In ‘Devache Nav Jiyeta Hav’, a play by Mariano Fernandes, Prajakta plays the central antagonist. “I am Varsha Usgaonkar’s daughter-in-law in this play,” she shares. Her experimental Marathi play ‘Hattamalachya Pallyad’, co-starring Shravan Fondekar and Pranav Tengse, is nearing its 50th performance. Prajakta also acted in ‘Tathkana’, a biographical project on Dr Ramani, alongside Umesh Kamat.
In Aai Saiba, Prajakta portrays Rosemerry, a ros omelette gado owner. As per the brief, she is a small yet sharp presence in the neighbourhood—the local “gundi” of the area. Although it was just a single scene, shot over one night, the experience proved unforgettable. “I was called to the set around 10 pm, and my scene finally went on the floor at 4 am. Despite the limited screen time, the scene is important and is expected to be visible in the trailer,” recalls Prajakta, for whom sharing screen space with Aamir Khan came as a complete surprise.
“For any actor, moments like these feel surreal. Seeing Aamir Khan Productions written on the clapboard gave me goose bumps. It is difficult to put into words what it feels like to perform alongside the Perfectionist himself. What made the experience even more special was when director Vir Das personally came to me after the shoot to say that he loved the scene. That moment truly felt like a cherry on top,” quips Prajakta.
With a master’s in Theatre from Lalit Kala Kendra (Pune) theatre has been an inseparable part of Prajakta’s life. Over the years, she has been deeply involved in every aspect of theatre, from acting and costume design to management. What she loves most about theatre is its discipline, the time it demands for rehearsals, and the collaborative energy of every department.
“Even after a performance, an actor can reflect, refine, and grow. That scope for continuous improvement keeps theatre alive for me,” says Prajakta whose deeper association with films began after she quit as an assistant professor of Performing Arts at GVM’s and moved to Mumbai.
“Despite my experience on screen, I still struggle with one aspect of film acting: once a shot is done, it is done. There is no revisiting or reworking it. Theatre, in that sense, feels more forgiving and organic. Both mediums have their strengths and limitations, and while theatre remains my comfort zone, I am always curious and open to learning within new creative environments,” says the artist.
However, there is a concerning reality within Goan casting practices, observes Prajakta. Often, casting decisions are influenced not by talent but by the price an actor is willing to accept.
Having worked in Mumbai, Prajakta is aware of standard industry pay scales, especially for advertisements and feature films. Unfortunately, by the time such projects reach Goan actors, the remuneration is drastically reduced, sometimes not even covering basic expenses like travel.
To address this gap, Prajakta initiated KalaCasting, a platform that focuses purely on talent, skill, and suitability for roles rather than financial compromises. Alongside this, KalaSaad was born two years ago as a collaborative initiative with fellow theatre practitioners Shravan Fondekar and Mandar Jog.
“For me, theatre, cinema, teaching, and community building are not separate paths but interconnected journeys. Each experience feeds into the other, shaping me not just as an actor, but as a practitioner committed to the growth of Goan arts,” expresses the versatile artist.
