Ansh Duggal On Crossdressing In 'Nakhrewaalii', Working with Alia Bhatt on ‘Don’t Be Shy’ |Spotlight

Ansh Duggal sits down with Variety India for his first proper Spotlight conversation on his upcoming theatrical debut “Nakhrewaalii” with Aanand L. Rai, his OTT debut “Don't Be Shy” backed by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt, and the two-year wait that taught him what being a leading man really means. In this exclusive interview, Ansh Duggal opens up about leaving Delhi for Mumbai at his dad's push, the grandfather who always called him "a hero" and how acting didn't choose him by plan, it chose him. He talks about training at Jeff Goldberg Studio after workshops with Atul Monga and Rachi Singh, the Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Imtiaz Ali wishlist of filmmakers he's building toward and why saying yes to Aanand L. Rai's “Nakhrewaalii” at 25 was never really a question. Ansh gets remarkably candid about the crossdressing beats in “Nakhrewaalii”, playing Sumit who dresses as a woman out of love and lands the interview's most defiant line: "If I'm not secure in my own masculinity, that's a problem with me. I'd rather have people judge me more than I judge myself." He talks about the moment he stepped out of the van in costume with three cars and ten umbrellas waiting, and how it stripped away vanity before his career even started. Plus: How Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt made “Don't Be Shy” feel like family, what it was like watching the “Nakhrewaalii” poster come out and then wait two more years, how he feels about being compared to a young Ranveer Singh, the box-office nerves he's not pretending to be above and the funny first meeting with his “Nakhrewaalii” co-star Pragati Srivastava who was "giving him attitude" until she couldn't keep it up anymore. He closes on what he wants audiences to take away from 'Nakhrewaalii', a film made with love, heart and humor, that quietly carries a message about the challenges women face today without ever turning preachy. ▶ Subscribe to Variety India for exclusive conversations with Bollywood's most exciting new voices. #AnshDuggal #Nakhrewaalii #DontBeShy #AliaBhatt #VarietyIndia Credits Interviewed by: Ayushi Agrawal Video Entertainment Editor: Jinal Bhatt Lead Video Editor: Sanjana Bhalerao Senior Video Editor: Anuja Bhandare Timestamps: 00:00 Ansh Duggal: 'I'd Rather Be Judged Than Judge Myself' 01:54 Why Ansh Trained With Atul Monga & Jeff Goldberg Studio 02:47 Directors Ansh Wants To Work With 03:06 Why Ansh Said Yes To Aanand L Rai's 'Nakhrewaalii' At 25 04:25 Why Aanand L Rai Made The Set Feel Like Home 05:44 How Ansh Dealt With 'Nakhrewaalii' Getting Delayed 06:48 Would Ansh Have Preferred A Theatrical Debut Over OTT? 08:03 Did Ansh Ever Fear 'Nakhrewaalii' Would Never Release? 09:20 What Ansh Thinks Of The Ranveer Singh Comparison 10:11 How Ansh Is Dealing With 'Nakhrewaalii' Box Office Nerves 13:08 What Crossdressing For 'Nakhrewaalii' Taught Ansh About Vanity 15:09 Ansh On First Meeting Co-Star Pragati On The 'Nakhrewaalii' Set 16:23 What Ansh Duggal Thinks Of Ahaan Panday's Magical Debut 17:32 Working With Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt On 'Don't Be Shy' 19:40 What Ansh Wants Audiences To Take From 'Nakhrewaalii' Hashtags: #AnshDuggal #nakhrewali #dontbeshy #AliaBhatt #aanandlrai #ShaheenBhatt #PratibhaRanta #BollywoodDebutant #BollywoodInterview #TheatricalDebut #BollywoodRomance #VarietyIndia #NewBollywoodStars #Bollywood2026 #Ansh #AnshDuggalMovies #AnshDuggalOnVariety #nakhrewalimovie #nakhrewaalii Check out below links and follow for more: YouTube: @varietyindia Instagram:   / varietyindia   X (Twitter): https://x.com/varietyindia Facebook:   / varietyindiaofficial   Threads: https://www.threads.com/@varietyindia LinkedIn:   / variety-india