‘You saw the ghost, I saw the journey behind her’: Aurosikha Mishra on ‘Dahaan’

Bhubaneswar: As Dahaan – The Evil Within continues to draw audiences to theatres and several shows turn houseful following its release, actress Aurosikha Mishra, who plays Manyata Singh Deo in the horror film, has opened up about the demanding journey behind her character.

“You saw the ghost. I saw the journey behind her,” Aurosikha said, reflecting on the experience of bringing Manyata to the screen.

The actress revealed that the character required hours of makeup, uncomfortable prosthetics and repeated takes. The physical demands of the transformation, coupled with the intensity of the role, made Manyata a character that stayed with her even after the camera stopped rolling.

“Hours in makeup, uncomfortable prosthetics, endless takes and a character that stayed with me long after ‘cut’,” she said.
For Aurosikha, the audience response has made the effort especially rewarding. “Today, seeing the love for my performance in Dahaan feels incredibly special,” she said.

Directed by Anupam Patnaik and produced by Anupam Patnaik and Barsha Patnaik under Amiy Patnaik Productions, Dahaan – The Evil Within was released during Ganesh Puja. The film has been performing well at the box office, with several shows witnessing houseful response, indicating strong audience interest in the Odia horror offering.

The film revolves around two sisters and their mysterious relationship, with its narrative exploring darkness, supernatural forces and an unsettling presence that connects the two central characters.

Besides Barsha Patnaik and Aurosikha Mishra, the film features Samrat Mahapatra, Sijan Mahapatra, Partha Sarathi Ray, Choudhury Jayaprakash Das, Nishant Majithia, Pranab Prasanna Rath, Navya Jaiti and Prasanjit Mahapatra in key roles.

The film’s premiere was held at Maharaja Cinema Hall, attended by members of the Odia film fraternity, including directors, producers, critics and artistes. With its focus on supernatural horror and a family-oriented narrative, Dahaan has generated considerable curiosity among Odia moviegoers.

For Aurosikha, however, the audience’s response to Manyata represents more than just the success of a horror character. It is recognition of the hours of preparation, physical discomfort and emotional investment that went into creating the figure audiences now see on the big screen.