Netflix’s Delhi Crime is set to return with its much-awaited third season on November 13, and along with Shefali Shah’s formidable DIG Vartika Chaturvedi, actor Rasika Dugal steps back into the shoes of Neeti Singh, a character she has embodied since the show’s debut in 2019.
At the trailer launch, Rasika reflected on how each new season brings a deeper understanding of Neeti and of herself. “Every season is a test for every character,” she said thoughtfully. “Earlier, Neeti was trying to balance her personal and professional life. Now, she has made some decisions. She’s a confident officer who has realized that she has to work within the boundaries of the system. In her personal life too, she’s taking some brave decisions. There’s understanding, there’s evolution but between understanding and reality lies a distance, and this season, she’s trying to bridge that gap. That is her test.”
This introspective take perfectly captures Neeti’s journey from a young, idealistic officer to a woman learning the complexities of power, empathy, and compromise. While Season 1 saw her as a rookie navigating the chaos of the Delhi Police, Season 3 introduces her as someone who has lived through both triumph and fatigue a professional finding balance between conviction and caution.
Rasika also shared how returning to the role remains an unexpectedly emotional experience for her. “I feel very attached to this part every time I go back to it. I’m often surprised by my own emotional reaction. I think I’ve grown up that I’ll come back without feeling so connected but no, this show always pulls me in, in a special way,” she said with a smile.
The actor revealed a touching ritual she follows before every season: “There’s a police officer I’ve been following since the first season. I shadow her each time we shoot. I don’t know if it adds value to the work anymore, but I still do it, it’s become a ritual. It’s been beautiful to see her grow and to see myself grow alongside her since 2018. You don’t often get experiences like this to revisit a character at different points in your own life. It’s a beautiful journey and very emotional for me every time I return to set.”
That emotional connection, built over years of storytelling and personal growth, is what makes Delhi Crime such a rare series — one where the evolution of its characters mirrors the evolution of its actors.
As Delhi Crime 3 premieres on Netflix on November 13, fans can look forward not just to a new case, but to seeing how Neeti Singh continues to evolve — a woman navigating her ideals, her boundaries, and the delicate space between understanding and reality.