Pallavi Joshi Ages a Century for ‘The Bengal Files’: A Masterclass in Method Acting

Veteran actress Pallavi Joshi is in the news with her breathtaking makeover in the upcoming movie The Bengal Files, in which she gets to portray Ma Bharati—a 100-year-old lady who is the soul and might of the nation. The film is directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and produced by Joshi herself and Abhishek Agarwal, and it will hit the theatres on September 5, 2025.

 

Key Highlights

 

Record-Breaking Makeover: Pallavi Joshi took six months of honing her appearance, abandoning all skincare regimens in the bargain to achieve the natural glow of a centenarian. She added, "We worked on the look for nearly 6 months. I abandoned all skin care during those months to give my skin a dry appearance.".

 

Emotional Preparation: Joshi was motivated by her own grandmother, and she wished to combine age and innocence with warmth. "My only reference was my dadi. I remember her very old but very sweet at the same time," she disclosed.

 

Defying Prosthetics: It was not an easy task. "Most prosthetics made me appear frightening. The idea was that she should appear innocent and lovable. Ma Bharati had to be warm and friendly," Joshi said.

 

Living the Role: To portray Ma Bharati's frailty and dementia, Joshi practiced daily until the character's mannerisms became second nature.

 

Part of a Trilogy: The Bengal Files is a follow-up to Agnihotri's hit "Files" trilogy, following The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, and will unveil so far untapped pages of Indian history.

 

Star-Studded Cast: The film also features Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar.

 

Release Date: The trailer of the movie, featuring Mithun Chakraborty, has already generated national buzz. Bengal Files will release internationally on September 5, 2025.

 

Pallavi Joshi's dedication towards realism and intensity of emotions has set the bar high for character acting in Indian cinema, and her performance in The Bengal Files is among the most anticipated performances this year.

 

Source: Moneycontrol, News18, LatestLY, Bollywood Hungama