Rasika Dugal Says Cinema for All Must Include Children, Highlights Need for More Children’s Films

Actor Rasika Dugal has highlighted the importance of children’s cinema, arguing that films should make space for young audiences without underestimating their intelligence or curiosity. Speaking ahead of the release of her upcoming film Little Thomas, the actor has drawn attention to a gap in Indian cinema: the limited availability of stories created for children that adults can also enjoy.

Dugal’s comments arrive as Little Thomas, directed by Kaushal Oza and backed by producer Anurag Kashyap, prepares to reach theatres. The film stars Dugal alongside Gulshan Devaiah and child actor Hridansh Parekh. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 23, 2026.

Her remarks raise a broader question about the role of children in mainstream filmmaking. While commercial cinema often targets teenagers and adults, stories that centre on children’s experiences, questions and emotions remain an important part of building a more inclusive film culture.

Rasika Dugal on Why Children Deserve Better Stories

Dugal has emphasised that children should not be treated as a secondary audience. Films made for younger viewers can explore complex emotions and everyday family experiences while remaining entertaining and accessible.

Her perspective challenges the assumption that children’s cinema must be simplistic or that it can appeal only to a narrowly defined age group. A well-crafted story can engage children through their own concerns while offering adults an opportunity to reconnect with childhood experiences.

The actor’s comments also underline the importance of respecting how children understand the world around them. Their questions, worries and interpretations can be meaningful storytelling material rather than merely a source of comic relief.

Ahead of Little Thomas, Dugal has described the film as a project that remains faithful to its story without relying on unnecessary embellishments. She has also pointed to the shortage of children’s films that do not talk down to their audiences.

What Is Little Thomas About?

Set in Goa in the early 1990s, Little Thomas follows a seven-year-old boy who longs for a younger brother. Thomas believes that his parents need to kiss to make his wish come true. When their frequent arguments prevent that from happening, he decides to intervene in his own imaginative way.

The film uses this innocent misunderstanding to explore childhood curiosity, family relationships and the way children attempt to make sense of adult behaviour. Its premise is built around a familiar childhood experience: asking questions about the world and trying to find answers, even when adults struggle to explain them.

Dugal and Devaiah play Thomas’s parents, while Hridansh Parekh portrays the titular character. The film is written and directed by Kaushal Oza and backed by a group of production companies, including Good Bad Films, Civic Studios, Flip Films and Luminoso Pictures. Anurag Kashyap is among its producers.

Rather than relying on spectacle, the story appears to draw its appeal from the humour and emotional complications of family life. Thomas’s determination to fulfil his wish creates the central conflict, allowing the film to approach childhood from the child’s point of view.

Why Children’s Cinema Matters in India?

Children’s films can serve a purpose beyond entertainment. They offer young viewers stories in which their concerns are taken seriously, while helping families discuss subjects that may otherwise be difficult to explain.

India has a long tradition of films and television programmes aimed at younger audiences, but the availability of theatrical releases specifically designed for children can be inconsistent. Many mainstream releases are made primarily for adult audiences, leaving fewer opportunities for children to see their own experiences reflected on the big screen.

The challenge is not simply to produce more films featuring children. It is to develop stories that understand their emotional worlds, respect their curiosity and offer age-appropriate entertainment without becoming overly simplistic.

A film such as Little Thomas also has the potential to bring generations together. Its central premise may appeal to children because of Thomas’s questions and adventures, while adults may recognise the familiar challenges of communicating with a curious child.

This is where Dugal’s comments become especially relevant. Her argument is not only about increasing the number of children’s films, but also about recognising younger viewers as an audience deserving thoughtful writing and cinematic attention.

A Different Kind of Role for Rasika Dugal

Dugal has built a varied screen career across films and streaming projects, frequently taking on characters with distinct emotional and psychological dimensions. Her work includes Mirzapur, Delhi Crime and Manto, among other projects.

In Little Thomas, she takes on a family-centred story that approaches life through a child’s perspective. The role places her in a different storytelling environment, where the emotional dynamics of the family and Thomas’s understanding of his parents form the heart of the narrative.

The project also gives Dugal an opportunity to contribute to a conversation about the kinds of films the industry chooses to make and the audiences it seeks to serve.

The Celebrity Hour Take

Rasika Dugal’s comments highlight an important point: children’s cinema should not be treated as a lesser category of filmmaking. Stories for younger audiences deserve strong writing, thoughtful direction and characters who reflect the way children experience the world.

Little Thomas arrives with a premise built around childhood curiosity and family relationships. Its broader significance will depend on how effectively it turns that premise into an engaging cinematic experience, but the conversation surrounding the film is already drawing attention to a genre that deserves greater visibility.

For Indian cinema, expanding the range of films available to children could also mean creating more opportunities for families to enjoy stories together. The goal should not be to simplify cinema for younger viewers, but to tell stories that speak to them with warmth, honesty and imagination.

Sources & Verification

This article draws on the supplied Bollywood Hungama report, published coverage of Little Thomas, and information from the film’s published cast and synopsis. Rasika Dugal’s views are attributed to reported comments ahead of the film’s release. The discussion of children’s cinema is editorial analysis rather than a claim about industry-wide audience statistics.