The downside of dabbling in different industries is that you don't have your roots anywhere and you don't know where your real demand is.
When I came to Bengaluru, I had just joined college and there was a sting in me to be independent and find my own self. And I feel like I have done that through art and theatre here.
Honestly speaking, it's not easy to reprise someone else's role.
I did realise that when you talk with a straight face, you come across as someone bolder than somebody who bats her eyelids a lot.
To me, success is how recognisable your face is as an actress or a brand.
My character in 'Ivan Thanthiran' is in stark contrast to my role in 'U Turn.' Here, I play Asha, a hard working girl belonging to a middle-class background.
I can't pick one film industry over another because work is work. Actresses are targeted when say prefer one industry over another.
My first film was a Malayalam film where I played a small character and then my big debut happened in Kannada, which is also my mother tongue, in 2016, 'U-Turn' and since then my life has taken a different turn altogether.
I was looking to be a part of commercial cinema and that was when I signed 'Jodi.'
I learnt that an actor should be willing to take risks, try new things and unlearn stuff.
I know it wasn't like a meteoric rise, it was not overnight success. Nobody watched my movie, fell in love and said 'I'm her biggest fan.' People took time to warm up to me.
I rehearse every morning starting as early as 6:30 A.M. after which I go straight to work. I lose out on social life, but as long as I am doing theatre, everything is worth it.
Nobody must judge me based on my decisions, and only my knowledge and education must be the criteria to judge me.
Well, I am from an army background. My dad is in the Defence forces and I have travelled enough in the north to get my Hindi right.
The West has a better understanding of what the word sexual abuse or harassment means. There are some concepts that they understand way better.
'Richie' was my first Tamil audition and first Tamil film.
I feel if I'm playing an athlete, I know I have to prepare. I need to get that body language right, I need to walk like an athlete, look like an athlete. If I'm playing a musician, I need to know how to play an instrument.
I personally believe that I'm a very unconventional heroine. And for me to be cast in some very nice films and whatever little name I have made for myself, I feel proud of myself.
Telugu is a lot like Kannada, so I don't have a problem with Telugu. But Tamil is very difficult to learn, man.
I'll be honest, acting in a commercial film has its perks - crazy stardom, crazy money and frequent trips abroad - but why would I aspire for something I'm not cut out for?
