Jyotika on emoting through silence in 'System': 'Very challenging as an actor'
Synopsis
Jyotika reveals that her most demanding acting challenge in 'System' wasn't dialogue — it was silence. Playing a multi-layered stenographer opposite Sonakshi Sinha's debut lawyer role, she says the character's emotional depth is carried largely without words, making it one of the most unconventional parts of her career.
Key Takeaways
Jyotika plays Sarika , a stenographer with multiple emotional layers, in the courtroom drama 'System' .
She describes the role as unlike any she has played before, with much of her performance conveyed through silence .
Sonakshi Sinha plays lawyer Neha — her first on-screen lawyer role and her second OTT film after 'Kakuda' .
Ashutosh Gowariker plays Neha's father, whose challenge drives the central conflict.
The film is produced by Pammi Baweja , Harman Baweja , and Smitha Baliga , and streams on Prime Video .
Actress Jyotika has opened up about the craft behind her performance in the newly released courtroom drama 'System', now streaming on Prime Video, saying that much of her character's emotional weight is conveyed without words. The film, which also stars Sonakshi Sinha, has drawn strong early audience response since its release.
The Character That Drew Her In
Jyotika plays Sarika, a stenographer — a role she describes as unlike anything she has taken on before. Speaking during the film's promotions in Mumbai, she explained what made the part irresistible. 'For me, I really like Sarika as a character I have not played before, actually. I don't want to give away too much, but there are too many shades to her and there are a lot of layers. So, those layers in her attracted me a lot. Also, there's a lot I'm emoting through silence, which was another factor, which was very challenging as an actor,' she said.
Learning the Courtroom from the Screen
Jyotika also reflected candidly on how she prepared for the legal setting of the film, admitting she has never set foot inside an actual courtroom. 'We've seen courtrooms and also other films which have been projected very well. So each time it's like learning for us also. Ke isse type ka court is like this, supreme court is like this, and the general court is like this. So it's always a learning from other films. I've really not been to an actual court. So it's just through films and how real they're showing it that we're learning,' she said.
Sonakshi Sinha's Lawyer Debut
Sonakshi Sinha essays Neha, a determined young lawyer who must prove herself to her father — played by Ashutosh Gowariker — to earn a partnership in his firm. The role marks Sonakshi's first on-screen portrayal of a lawyer and her second OTT outing after 'Kakuda'.
About the Film
'System' is produced by Pammi Baweja, Harman Baweja, and Smitha Baliga. The courtroom drama is now available to stream on Prime Video. With two seasoned actors anchoring the narrative from opposite ends of the courtroom, the film arrives at a moment when legal dramas are finding renewed traction on Indian streaming platforms.
Point of View
Dialogue-heavy performances, restraint remains the harder craft. Her choice to anchor 'System' in silence rather than exposition is a deliberate artistic bet — and the positive early response suggests it is paying off. For Sonakshi Sinha, the film is also a strategic pivot: moving from commercial entertainers to character-driven OTT fare is a repositioning that her peer group is increasingly pursuing, and 'System' gives her a credible legal-drama credit. The real question is whether courtroom dramas — a format that has found strong footing in South Indian cinema — can replicate that traction consistently on Hindi OTT.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'System' about?
'System' is a courtroom drama streaming on Prime Video, starring Sonakshi Sinha as a young lawyer named Neha and Jyotika as a stenographer named Sarika. The story centres on Neha proving herself to her father, played by Ashutosh Gowariker, to earn a partnership in his law firm.
What role does Jyotika play in 'System'?
Jyotika plays Sarika, a stenographer she describes as a character with many shades and layers. She has said the role required her to convey emotion largely through silence, which she found particularly challenging as an actor.
Is 'System' Sonakshi Sinha's first OTT film?
No, 'System' is Sonakshi Sinha's second OTT film. Her first was 'Kakuda'. However, 'System' marks her first time playing a lawyer on screen.
Where can I watch 'System'?
'System' is available to stream on Prime Video. The film was produced by Pammi Baweja, Harman Baweja, and Smitha Baliga.
How did Jyotika prepare for courtroom scenes in 'System'?
Jyotika has said she has never visited an actual courtroom and relied on other films depicting legal proceedings to understand how different courts — including the Supreme Court — look and function. She described it as a learning process through cinematic references.
