Vedika Pinto recalls Anurag Kashyap's advice that led her to 'Musafir Cafe'

Sometimes all it takes is one decision and ten months for everything to change. For Vedika Pinto, that decision was signing on to 'Musafir Café'. Today, she's widely recognised as the feisty Sudha from the Netflix series, marking a shift from last September, when she earned praise for her performance in Anurag Kashyap's 'Nishaanchi' (2025), a film that, despite the reviews, largely went unnoticed by audiences. Even back then, when 'Musafir Café' came her way, Pinto knew exactly who she wanted to consult first.Vedika Pinto on making a call to Anurag KashyapSpeaking to Mid-Day, Pinto recalled reaching out to her 'Nishaanchi' director before signing on to the show. "Before I signed Musafir Cafe, I called AK to tell him about it. In typical AK style, he asked, 'Story kya hai? (What is the story?) What's your role? Who is directing it?' Five questions later, he asked about my co-star and the platform. Then he said that I must do it. That's the beautiful thing about him — even if his own taste is different, he supported me so much [with this show]."'Musafir Cafe' gave Vedika Pinto that 'Nishaanchi' couldn'tPinto reflected on how the two projects have complemented each other in very different ways. She said, "Nishaanchi opened many doors for me because the industry believes that if you've worked in an Anurag Kashyap film, you must be a good actor. But I didn't get the audience's appreciation. With 'Musafir Café', we're getting so much love. So, I have one project that backs me as an actor and another that has the audience's love."Pinto also noted a shift in the nature of work offers coming her way since the show's release. "After Nishaanchi, directors mentioned that they'd like to collaborate with me, but it was open ended. Now, those conversations have changed because there is proof of concept that viewers like this [actor]," she said.Vedika Pinto on working with Vikrant MasseyPinto admitted she was initially nervous about sharing screen space with Vikrant Massey. "He is a National Award winner after all," she said, before describing him as "a generous actor." She spoke fondly of the working rhythm the two developed on set, sharing, "We formed a beautiful working relationship. We had this ritual — whenever we felt stuck with a scene, we'd say, 'Let's play!' Whenever we did it, something wonderful came out.More about 'Musafir Cafe''Musafir Café', directed by Ruchir Arun and adapted from Divya Prakash Dubey's bestselling novel of the same name, stars Vikrant Massey, Vedika Pinto and Mahima Makwana in lead roles. The Netflix series follows Chander, a software engineer chasing his dream of opening a café in Mussoorie, whose life intersects with Sudha, an ambitious divorce lawyer wary of love. The series dropped on July 24 on Netflix.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!