1. Tell us about your background and journey.
I am basically from Coorg. I was born and lived there for a while. Since my dad was in army, we travelled quite a lot. I have been to Ambala, Punjab, Delhi, Srinagar for a while and then at some point I came back to Coorg because my mom was really concerned about my education since we were travelling around a lot, and this could really affect us.
After my mother had my brother, all three of us (my mom, my brother and I) came back to Coorg and I started studying there. Later when my dad took a volunteer retirement, we moved to Mysore and till date my family lives there. Till my PU I was in Mysore at Chinmayi Vidhyalaya and then I moved to Bangalore. As soon as I moved to Bangalore I started working as an assistant manager at a MNC called InterCall, a US based conferencing company for 5 and a half years. I thought this how my life would be, me working in a company but things changed and I am an actor today.
2. Did you ever think or dream of being an actor?
No, I never really dreamt of becoming an actor while growing up. Even while watching a movies or seeing models in magazines, not even for a second had the thought of becoming an actor crossed my mind. Growing up I was never exposed to that world at all. No one really talked about such things like becoming an actor including my friends, and I hardly watched any movies. It was only when I had faced the camera for the first time that I realized that this is something that I wanted to do. On the first day for the first time when I faced the camera, I knew right away that I was born to become an actress. I am really happy that this happened to me otherwise I wouldn’t have been an actress today.
3. How can one approach their career and have the confidence and belief to become an actor?
Honestly, I didn’t know how to become an actress like I mentioned previously. Growing up I never thought of becoming one. It just happened to me, and things fell in place miraculously. I do know a lot of people are out there who have always dreamt of becoming an actor growing up and they worked hard towards it by taking acting classes, dance classes and get trained in acting schools. I wish I had these opportunities back then because it would have been great for me but fortunately things worked out for me, and I am an actor today without any training.
Even today I do learn a lot of things from every movie I am a part of. Being confident and having faith in what you do is not only important to become an actor but in life as well. I believe that for one to achieve anything in life, they will first have to believe in themselves and be confident about it and that’s all they need to do to make their dreams come true because that’s what I did. I was working for a MNC before but things just happened and I was approached to act in a film and it was my confidence and the faith I had in myself that pushed me towards becoming an actor and do what I am doing today.
Films can be very colorful at the same time dangerous and unpredictable. You won’t know what to expect once you enter the film industry. Some days you work, some days you don’t work, some days you earn, some days you don’t. To come from a world where everything was stable, I had a secured job, I was earning well, I didn’t really have to worry about anything.
To enter a world this unpredictable was a difficult task for me. The only thing that helped me through this is the courage and confidence I had in myself. Even today I don’t really have people around me to support me, it’s just the belief and confidence I have in myself that helps me keep going. Though I became an actor easily I still work hard every day towards becoming a better version of myself to keep up with everyone. I try to prove myself in every film I am a part of, and I don’t take things for granted. If you really want something in your life, you need to work for it, believe in it and once you believe in it, it will be yours.
4. If not this, what would you be doing?
Before becoming an actor, I was working at a company but if I had the chance to become anything else then I would become a pilot. Growing up I always wanted to become one. I was also into the Air Force and NCC, I did learn how to fly a microlight and till date gives me an adrenaline rush when I see pilots, read about flying and astronauts, these things tremendously fascinate me. Although I did want to become a pilot, things change so did my life and the course of my path. Here I am as an actor but if not for an actor I would definitely be working in my previous company.
5. For a complete outsider with inroads, what advice would you like to give?
Honestly. I think you should be extremely brave; you should know what you want and never compromise when it comes to your self-respect. Work towards your dreams, never stop working and believing in what you want to do. Nobody can make you, at the same time nobody can break you, all the power lies in yourself, only you can make and break yourself.
You need to have the courage to dream and the ability and strength to work towards it. Try to learn from every mistake you make and become a better version of yourself. Always remember to dream big because that’s what I do, I wake up every morning, dream about it, want it, work towards it, last but not the least believe in yourself.
6. What is your mantra of success?
Those who dare to imagine the impossible are the ones who break all the human limitations. I will have great aim; I will continuously acquire knowledge; I will work hard; and I will persevere and succeed. I know what I want and I believe in what I want and I work for it every day. That's my mantra, I’m a happy person I find happiness in little things.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
The secret and Ikigai, these are my favourite books because they literally changed my life. These books changed the way I see life and the way I think. It changed everything for the better. These books taught me that if you want something you can get it, you just have to want it and believe it and it will be yours.
- Interviewed By Lakshme Priyaa
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