Bhumi Pednekar on playing a stoic lead in Daldal: “I felt very disabled on set'

Daldal is an upcoming Prime Video psychological crime thriller series where Bhumi Pednekar stars as DCP Rita Ferreira. Ahead of the release, Bhumi opened up about the challenges of her role.

Bhumi Pednekar in a still from Daldal

Daldal is a 2026 Hindi-language psychological crime thriller series premiering on Amazon Prime Video on January 30, 2026. Starring Bhumi Pednekar as DCP Rita Ferreira, the show tells the story of a haunted Mumbai cop confronting the pain of her own past while investigating a serial killer. Ahead of the release, Bhumi spoke about the emotional and mental ups and downs she went through while playing the lead role in the crime thriller series Daldal.

Bhumi Pednekar on playing DCP Rita Ferreira in Daldal

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Bhumi Pednekar revealed that stepping into the shoes of DCP Rita Ferreira meant unlearning herself, because the role demanded restraint, silence, and a storm of emotions beneath the surface. “She has so much restraint. She’s stoic. She’s not physically expressive or verbose. As an actor, I’m used to material where emotions are heightened. Here, I felt very, very disabled on set," she said.

She said the discomfort was long-lasting, with self-doubt building up within about ten days of starting the shoot. Unsure of how to portray the role, she admitted that she was jealous of other, more expressive characters. “I remember thinking, ‘I just can’t do this right.’ I kept telling Amrit that I didn’t know what to do. They were so well-written and interesting. As an actor, you want to do more, express more," she said.

Bhumi realised that her character's silence was not emptiness, but suppression. Here’s a short indirect-speech version in the same clean tone. She pointed out that her character shared all the traits of the antagonist, differing only in the choice of a more righteous path. She also credited the makers for preserving the integrity of the character, adding that the depth of the character would not have been reflected on screen without the right people behind the project.

What's the plot of Daldal?

Daldal is a psychological crime thriller series starring Bhumi Pednekar as DCP Rita Ferreira, investigating a serial killer in Mumbai. Based on Vish Dhamija’s novel Bhendi Bazaar, the plot follows a traumatised cop battling patriarchy, internal guilt, and a brutal murderer. Created by Suresh Triveni, it features Aditya Rawal and Samara Tijori.

Also Read: Daldal trailer OUT: Bhumi Pednekar dives into the dark heart of Mumbai as a relentless DCP battling both a brutal murderer and her deepest internal demons

Daldal FAQs:

Q: Who created and directed the Prime Video series Daldal?

A: Daldal was created for a series by Suresh Triveni. It is directed by Amrit Raj Gupta. Suresh Triveni also co-wrote the series with Sreekanth Agneeaswaran, Rohan D’Souza, and Priya Saggi.

Q: What is Daldal based on?

A: The Prime Video series Daldal is based on the bestselling book Bhendi Bazaar by author Vish Dhamija.

Q: Who plays DCP Rita Ferreira in the series Daldal?

A: The role of DCP Rita Ferreira, the determined police officer in the psychological crime thriller, is played by actor Bhumi Satish Pednekkar.

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