'I'd like to do a high-fashion film'

'These days girls are quite independent. They are scared to settle down as they feel their freedom will be taken away. In Pesarattu, what the girl goes through is representative of the new-gen woman. They have this fear of life and marriage,' Nikitha Narayan tells Radhika Rajamani/ Rediff.com

Actress Nikitha Narayan is very excited about the way her career is shaping up.

After her January release Ladies And Gentlemen, she has another film Pesarattu up for release today.

The former Miss Hyderabad talks to Radhika Rajamani/ Rediff.com about her career.

How does it feel to have two back-to-back releases?

I am quite excited about it. In the recent past, no actor has had back-to-back releases.

The promotions have been hectic.

My role in Ladies and Gentlemen was quite subtle.

In Pesarattu, it is the other extreme. In that, I play a girl with commitment phobia.

These days girls are quite independent. They are scared to settle down as they feel their freedom will be taken away. In Pesarattu, what the girl goes through is representative of the new-gen woman. They have this fear of life and marriage.

What made you sign Pesarattu?

I have known Mahesh Kathi sir (director) for quite some time.

The concept of a crowd-funded film is a contemporary concept. Lucia in Kannada was a successful one.

Nandu (the lead actor) and I performed for the 100 Years of Indian Cinema and we wanted to work together after that. Pesarattu gave us that opportunity. So it was a combination of things.

You seem to be working with new directors.

For me, it’s never about debutants. I have worked with Pedda Vamsi garu who has won awards. If I like a story, I do the film.

The new directors are like a breath of fresh air, they have fresh ideas. They are open, friendly, cool and open to ideas. It’s easy to work with them.

Do you choose scripts that are different?

I tend to choose slice-of-life films and feel-good ones which are A centre ones.

I also like to do commercial films.

Being a model, I’d like to do a high-fashion film. I have done girl-next-door roles. I would like to strike a balance.

What attributes did you find in director Mahesh Kathi?

He has worked for the United Nations. I was surprised he was in films.

When he narrated this story, it excited me. He is open to suggestions and yet is the captain of the ship.

He was very cool and bindaas on the sets. We finished the film in a record 14 call sheets!

This is a crowd-sourced and funded film. What do you think of this process?

Co-operative funding for cinema will open doors for creativity to grow. It will help directors to grow.

The burden of production is not on one person and the risk is minimised. Everybody is happy to be part of the production. This is contributing to a corporatised set-up and there is no monopoly.

What are your future projects?

I am doing two Kannada films and one Telugu film, Nala Damayanthi, where Sri Vishnu is the hero. It is produced by Nara Rohith.

Your Telugu film Tannu Monne Vellipoyindi, with Vamsi, has not yet released. Any idea why?

I have no idea. I am hoping it will release some time this year.

It was Chakri sir’s (music director) last film. So it is dear to all of us.

Did you always want to act? Was modelling the first step to an acting career?

I was not interested in modelling or acting. When I was 10, I was roped in to act in an advertisement by Rajiv Menon.

Later, when I was studying, there was the Miss Hyderabad contest. There was a kiosk outside my college and the person manning it forced me to fill up the form and clicked my photo.

Everything fell in place. It was destiny. I got a call and finally won.

After the title, I got a lot of films. I did It’s My Love Story. So nothing was planned.

Do you feel you are destiny’s child?

It’s all totally pre-ordained. After It’s my Love Story, I worked for Amazon. It was difficult to do films then. So, when my dad said why don’t you try films, movies pulled me back.

Now that I am here I have decided to give it my best!