EXCLUSIVE! Surabhi Das Gets Candid On Making OTT Debut With Carnaame, Bagging Ramayana & More

Surabhi Das interview: When I saw her for the first time in the promo of Nima Denzongpa, I knew she had a certain spark. She impressed the audience with her power-packed performance in Colors TV's show, and is now ready to woo them with something special. There's no prize for guessing that I am talking about Surabhi Das.

Surabhi Das is moving into streaming and big-screen mythology at the same time, with Prime Video series Carnaame: Badla Gear Palti Kismat marking her OTT debut and Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana featuring her in a pivotal role.

The two projects arrive after Surabhi spends years building a steady body of work instead of chasing quick attention. As we sat down for a fun-filled chat, the actress spoke about her journey and how her early years shaped her as an artist.

In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat Chief Copy Editor Abhishek Ranjit, Surabhi Das got candid about her OTT debut, working with Ranbir Kapoor-Sai Pallavi in Ramayana and her dream collaboration.

Here are excerpts from the interview-

You began your journey in the Assamese entertainment industry. How did those early years shape you?

The Assamese industry is quite different and still relatively small in scale, especially when it comes to budgets. When I was shooting there in my initial years, the limitations were even more evident-you often had to arrange your own clothes and essentials for shoots.

Those early experiences really shaped my perspective. They made me realize how fortunate I am today to be working in the Hindi industry, where there are larger sets, bigger budgets, and the opportunity to collaborate with established actors and teams. There's a certain scale and continuity of work that I deeply value.

That said, I truly believe the Assamese industry is evolving. Budgets are improving, and there's visible growth. It might take some more time to reach the level of resources and infrastructure that larger industries have, but the progress is definitely underway. Overall, those initial years taught me gratitude-they made me appreciate the opportunities I have today, knowing that they are something many people aspire to.

Moving from Assam to the Hindi entertainment industry isn't easy. What were some challenges you faced?

Moving to a completely different place is never easy-there's a new culture, a new language, and a very different way of life. In Assam, for instance, Hindi isn't spoken as frequently in everyday conversations, so that adjustment was definitely there.

That said, I was quite fortunate. I got my first show while I was still in Assam, which made the transition much smoother for me. A lot of people who move to Mumbai struggle initially with finding a house and, more importantly, finding work. That phase can be really challenging. But by God's grace, I had already secured a lead role on a Colors show for a year, so I didn't have to go through the uncertainty of auditions or job hunting at the start. I had stability-I was working, earning, and learning on the job.

After that one year, you naturally begin to understand the industry, how things function, and it becomes comparatively easier to navigate. So yes, while there were challenges, I would say my journey wasn't as difficult as it can be for many others. In that sense, I do consider myself quite lucky.

One challenge that really stood out for me, though, was food. I absolutely love Assamese cuisine, but the food on sets here is often quite spicy, which I personally can't handle. Even today, I prefer carrying my own meals or ordering in because I'm quite particular about what I eat. Overall, it's been a learning experience-challenging at times, but largely smooth.

Your role in Nima Denzongpa was widely appreciated. What drew you to the character of Nima? Such a beautiful show. I was disappointed when Colors TV decided to axe it.

Thank you so much for the compliment. I had been working in serials in Assam,when I got a call from Colors for a show, especially for a lead role-it honestly felt surreal. I was on cloud nine. For me, it wasn't even a question; the opportunity itself meant everything and I knew I couldn't say no.

I also feel extremely grateful that the show ran for an entire year. In today's time, where many shows wrap up within four to five months, having that kind of longevity is truly special. It gave me the chance to grow with the character and explore her journey in depth.

What made it even more fulfilling was playing Nima. She's a character who goes through so many phases of life-from her youth to adulthood to motherhood- seeing her daughters grow up. Being able to portray such a layered and evolving character was incredibly rewarding.

You've often chosen a quieter, more deliberate path in your career. Was that intentional?

That's a very interesting question. Honestly, I've always believed in letting my work speak for itself. I'm not someone who wants to attend random parties just to be seen. And I say that with no judgment at all-everyone has a different thought process.

I feel that recognition should come from the work you do. When you have something meaningful to show, something you've truly contributed, people will naturally want to know you, talk to you, and engage with you. Until I have that kind of work backing me, I don't see the point of just being present somewhere for the sake of visibility.

I also strongly believe that if you're speaking, you should have something substantial to say. I don't want to be known for statements or controversies just to gain attention. My focus is very clear: I want to work on my craft, be part of good projects and grow as an artist. And fortunately, by God's grace, I'm getting opportunities to do that. I believe that once the work is there, everything else-recognition, conversations, visibility-will follow naturally.

You're now making your OTT debut with Carnaame: Badla Gear Palti Kismat. What can viewers expect?

Carnaame is essentially a story about four boys from Mumbai who get involved in a car theft racket and how their lives unfold as they get deeper into that world-along with how they navigate their way out of it. It's a very gripping story with a mix of action, drama and a strong, rooted storyline.

I'm playing the girlfriend of one of the lead characters and my role adds an interesting dynamic to the storyline. What I really love about the show is its very desi, Mumbai vibe. It's raw, entertaining and packed with action, along with some really strong performances from the cast.

I feel truly grateful to be a part of Carnaame. My character is quite interesting and adds a unique layer to the narrative, so I'm really excited for the audience to watch it. I'm sure they're going to enjoy the overall energy and storytelling of the show.

You're also part of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana. How can I not talk about it? What was your reaction when you got the role? Are you ready to surprise the audience?

Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll be able to surprise the audience. But at the same time, I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to even be a small part of a project of this scale, which in itself is a big achievement for me.

Whether the audience notices me or not, I just hope they truly enjoy the film. Personally, I feel it has the potential to become a cult film. The scale, the storytelling, and especially the performances-everything is just incredible. Working alongside actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi was surreal. When I worked with Sai on set, she genuinely looked like Sita, and Ranbir completely embodied Rama-it was amazing to witness.

When I first got the call, I actually couldn't believe it. They told me I was locked for the role and my first reaction was, "You mean shortlisted, right?" But they said, "No, you're locked." It took me a moment to process that this was really happening. As more people from the production reached out, it finally sank in, and I was just so, so happy!

I didn't tell anyone for a while, though. There's always that belief that you shouldn't talk about it until you actually reach the set. And when I finally did, on my first day of shooting, it hit me-this is real. The scale of the set, the number of people, the energy of working with such big actors-it was truly an amazing experience.

How different has your experience been working across television, OTT, and film?

I think one of the most noticeable differences I felt was-On television, the sets are comparatively smaller, whereas in films and OTT projects, the scale is much larger; there are bigger sets, more people and overall, the environment feels grander.

The themes also differ quite a bit. Television tends to follow a certain format and caters to a specific audience, while films and OTT explore a wider range of subjects and storytelling styles.

From a craft perspective, there's definitely a shift. In television, since you're performing for a smaller screen and a home-viewing audience, expressions tend to be slightly more pronounced or louder to make an impact. Whereas for OTT platforms, the performance style is much more subtle and nuanced. Films also usually prefer subtle acting, unless it's a genre like comedy where going slightly over-the-top works. So, performance-wise, I did feel a difference.

However, in terms of core techniques, the fundamentals of acting remain the same across mediums. The key change is in the scale, execution and the overall system-films and web shows tend to be more structured and systematic compared to television.

What advice would you give to aspiring actors from smaller towns?

I would just say, please don't lose hope and stay consistent. I truly believe that when you keep doing something every single day, eventually someone will notice you. It might take time, but it does happen.

Keep working on your craft as much as you can. Focus on improving your diction, and especially your Hindi, because in our industry, it plays a very important role since most of our work happens in that language. So if it's not your first language, definitely invest time in getting comfortable with it.

And most importantly, don't stop working hard. As long as you keep putting in the effort, opportunities will find their way to you. It's all about staying patient, consistent and committed to your growth.

At Filmibeat, we don't miss a single beat. We played a quick rapid fire with Surabhi Das, and we bet, you would love to know the answers.

Fun / Rapid-Fire

One role that changed you personally?

One role that has really changed me personally is the one I'm currently working on. It's an upcoming, untitled film based on the 1971 war, where I'm playing the character, Nazma. Through this role, I've experienced emotions I didn't even know existed within me. It's been a very intense and transformative journey as an actor.

OTT or cinema-which excites you more right now?

Cinema, for me, has always been the most exciting medium-I truly love it.

A director you dream of working with?

At this stage in my career, I want to collaborate with as many directors as possible and explore different kinds of storytelling. I'm open to every opportunity that helps me grow. That said, every actor has that one dream-and for me, it would definitely be to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

One word that defines your journey so far?

Consistency

We extend our best wishes to Surabhi