Nushrratt Bharuccha says being replaced by Ananya Panday in Dream Girl 2 ‘hurt’: ‘Everyone else was the same except me’ | Hindi Movie News

Nushrratt Bharuccha, who started her acting journey back in 2006, has spent nearly two decades carving a space for herself in the Hindi film industry. In 2019, she won audiences over with her role opposite Ayushmann Khurrana in the sleeper hit Dream Girl. Naturally, fans were disappointed when she didn’t return for the sequel, Dream Girl 2, released in 2023. In a recent interview, the actor finally broke her silence on being replaced by Ananya Panday and admitted it did sting.
Left out of her own sequel
Reflecting on her long and often challenging journey as an outsider in Bollywood, Nushrratt told Nayandeep Rakshit that not being cast in the sequel of her own film was particularly upsetting. “It hurt me even more when I was not part of my own sequel also, when every other actor was the same except the girl, which I felt was, not cool naa, guys?” she shared, adding with a resigned laugh, “Just not cool. But, theek hai, no problem.”
Choosing growth over grudges
The actor also clarified that she never contested the decision. “What do I fight? What am I going to say? ‘Why not me?’ They’ll say, ‘Because we don’t want you.’ That’s the truth of it. It ends there,” she explained. For her, the real battle is staying grounded, continuing to believe in her craft, and working with people who genuinely want to collaborate. “My fight is not giving up on myself,” she added.

Using a powerful metaphor to describe her attitude, she said, “Deewar mein sar maarke kya hone waala hai? Sir tootega apna. Koi baat nahi, kahi aur darwaza bana lo.” Her message was clear — instead of chasing closed doors, she prefers to create her own opportunities.

On the work front, Nushrratt is currently basking in the appreciation coming her way for Chhorii 2, the spine-chilling sequel to her 2021 horror hit. The film, which also stars Soha Ali Khan, continues to impress fans and critics alike with its gripping narrative and intense performances.