Naina Saran Talks Cultural Research and Mental Prep for ‘Rakh’ Role

Naina Saran’s upcoming appearance in the crime thriller "Rakh" has drawn attention for the depth of her preparation. Though her screen time is limited, she approached the Parsi role with a scholarly mindset. She immersed herself in the community’s speech, watching video interviews and analyzing vowel pronunciation and cadence. Additionally, she studied Parsi customs to reflect appropriate body language and lifestyle choices on screen. The series’ period backdrop required careful costume and makeup planning, which she finalized prior to the first shoot. Working under director Prashant Roy, a filmmaker she admired, gave her a clear framework to interpret the character’s emotional layers. Saran admits that the most demanding aspect was maintaining mental focus during intense, emotionally charged scenes, especially when multiple retakes were needed. The set’s intimacy coordinator provided guidance, and she rehearsed each sequence with co‑actors before the camera rolled. "Rakh," featuring an ensemble cast including Ali Fazal, Sonalee Bendre and Aamir Bashir, premiered globally on Amazon Prime Video on June 12.