Shweta Tripathi calls Varanasi her second home: ‘From Masaan to Mirzapur, every project has been unforgettable’

Shweta Tripathi in the series

Weeks after Mirzapur: The Film went on floors in Mumbai, Shweta Tripathi has joined the shoot today. Thrilled as she is to reprise her role of Golu Gupta, what makes the experience all the more exciting for the actor is that the unit is now filming in Varanasi. "So much of Golu's journey, her transformation, her pain and strength are rooted in this city," she said, ahead of the first day's shoot.

Tripathi has joined actors Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, and Rasika Dugal as they bring the popular Prime Video web series as a big-screen offering under Gurmmeet Singh's direction. She admits that Golu, a role she has played since the first season premièred in 2018, is more than just another character. "She has been a companion. She has lived many lives through the seasons. To bring her to the big screen is both challenging and rewarding because the stakes feel higher not just for her, but for the world of Mirzapur itself. Doing that in Varanasi, where it all began, feels right."

The actor's connection with the city goes well beyond the crime drama. Describing it as her "second home", she said, "So many of my milestones are connected to this city. From Masaan [2015] to Mirzapur first and second seasons, from Escaype Live [2022] to Kaalkoot [2023], every project here has given me something unforgettable."