How Manjiri Pupala Captured Hearts with Her Superboys of Malegaon Debut
Audiences can usually spot a memorable debut from a mile away, and that's exactly what happened with Manjiri Pupala in Reema Kagti’s Superboys of Malegaon. When the film premiered at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), not only did the movie showcase a unique slice of small-town India, but it also introduced Bollywood fans to Pupala's standout performance as Trupti, also fondly known as Basmati.
What makes this debut so buzzworthy? For starters, the film’s writer, Varun Grover, couldn’t stop raving about Pupala. He described how she managed to strike just the right balance between Trupti’s light-hearted, playful spirit and those subtle hints of deeper emotion beneath the surface. According to Grover, Pupala didn’t just play Trupti; she embodied her in a way that went beyond his original vision for the script. He saw something “flawless” in the way she delivered warmth and wit, sometimes in the same breath.
A Personal Connection Shines On Screen
There’s another layer to Pupala’s connection with her character that drew in both critics and the audience. Trupti’s grand entrance in the film is set to the classic Bollywood song Ek Do Teen—the same song Pupala loved and danced to during her birthday parties as a child. That full-circle moment didn’t just look good on screen; it made Pupala’s portrayal feel more authentic. For her, it wasn’t just another scene, but a blend of personal nostalgia with professional ambition. That emotional bond is something even seasoned actors struggle to translate on camera, yet Pupala made it look effortless.
Grover himself emphasized that finding the right actor for Trupti was crucial. In his view, Pupala's charm and energy made her instantly magnetic, pulling the entire story together from her very first moment on screen. He admitted that her casting was a turning point—she brought a layer of fun and humanity that made the character feel alive and relatable.
The production had big names behind it, including Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, and Kagti. With such creative heavyweights on board, the film carried high expectations. Pupala’s ability to not only hold her own, but actually become one of the film’s highlights, turned heads. Bollywood critics and regular viewers joined in the praise, pointing out how she infused Trupti with both charisma and vulnerability. She didn’t just hit her lines—she made them count.
For those looking for Bollywood's next big thing, Pupala’s debut in Superboys of Malegaon is the kind that people remember and talk about long after the credits roll. Her rise isn’t hype—she’s the real deal, and this film may just be the beginning of a much bigger journey.
