Drishika Chander’s next, A Beautiful Girl, is releasing on 12 May. The actor debuted in feature films in 2020 with the OTT release Bucchinaidu Kandriga.
Raised in Hyderabad, she studied fashion in New York and worked there for a while. Tall, well-mannered, and beautiful — the movie title that revolves around her character seems so apt in real life as well.
Drishika Chander was offered many films when she was younger. But her mother Deepa Chander insisted that she complete her academics first and then decide if she is cut out for cinema.
Deepa Chander, a renowned costume designer and stylist, worked for major films in Telugu and Hindi, including Arundhati (2009) which won her Nandi Award in the category of best costume designer.
In a free-wheeling chat with South First, Drishika talks about her performances and what to expect from A Beautiful Girl.
Drishika Chander did theatre before venturing into films. Instead of seeking her mother’s help to land a big film, the actor chose to be a self-made person, like her mother.
Excerpts from the interview:
“My mother is a perfectionist and wanted me to prove myself first. She is from the industry and knows what goes into it to achieve success. If you slack off or enter the filmdom without preparation, you’ll hurt a lot of people,” she explained.
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The journey
Regarding her entry into movies, Drishika Chander said she got into the theatre instead of knocking on the doors of production houses.
“Soon, I realised that this was where I ought to be. I continued theatre and did a Bengali play Evam, which got translated into Hindi. I did six different shades of a woman in the play,” the young actor recollected.
After her performance, her family gave her an 8 out of 10 rating and then she was spotted by the Manasanamaha (2020) team.
Directed by Deepak, Manasanamaha is the first Telugu short film to get an Oscar nomination for Best Live Action Short Film in 2022. Also, it won 900-plus international film awards.
It wasn’t an easy start for this Rajasthani damsel. Drishika did a video audition and was rejected because her Telugu was bad (though she grew up in Hyderabad).
“I forgot the little Telugu I knew because I moved abroad for studies. Back in Hyderabad, I met director Deepak. The moment I walked into his office, he said he knew I was Chaitra (Drishika’s character in Manasanamaha) he was looking for. I gave the auditions and got selected. And then, the short film was talked about a lot,” she recapitulated.
A Cult Love Story and an Edge of a Seat Thriller! Get ready to experience emotions and goosebumps on May 12th! Two Days to Go!@gennextmovies @NihalKodhaty1 @raviprakashbod1 @ChanderDrishika @PrasadTKSVV pic.twitter.com/rLQeOqwv9D
— Gen nexT Movies (@gennextmovies) May 10, 2023
On her role Chaitra
About her character Chaitra, Drishika Chander was confident that she could do a lot more than we see in the short film.
“This film has so many emotions and I could express them all through my character Chaitra. She is extremely different from who I am in real life. She is extroverted, a go-getter, and a voice artist. I am an ambivert, and shy.”
Manasanamaha is about Ravi and Chaitra and how they rise above their experiences in their lives, with the purity and sanctity of their bond remaining intact.
The other characters play an important role in their existence and take their story forward.
About the performance, the actor said: “There is a lot that I got to do performance-wise. Chaitra is a small-town girl and a voice artist in the film industry. She has family values. Whatever she gets for herself, she shares it with her people. In a nutshell, it is a hard-hitting thriller and a love story.”
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A Beautiful Girl
What made director Ravi Prakash Bodapati think of A Beautiful Girl as the title?
“Ravi Prakash wrote this story a few years ago. It was one line, and then it turned into a page and then a story, and he was waiting for the right time to turn into a movie and that’s when I joined the team,” she explained.
Ravi Prakash’s strength and confidence came from his life experiences. He is talented, creative, intelligent, and strong.
“I haven’t come across anyone as strong as him. When there are ups, we are happy. But when there are downs, you can’t change the outcome. So, we might as well laugh, enjoy and go about the work. That’s his policy,” Drishika pointed out.
The actor recalled that A Beautiful Girl team faced a lot of issues like location and weather, but they had a different way to deal with it. “It was tough, but we laughed through an entire schedule and became a family. Ravi Prakash prepared me to stand on my own feet,” she added.
Presenting you the Full Video Song of the banger Layi Layi, the second single from A Beautiful Girl! Tap your feet and groove your body to the rhythm of Laayi Laayi!https://t.co/zCpr63IIwG
#ABGFromMay12@NihalKodhaty1@raviprakashbod1@ChanderDrishika@PrasadTKSVV pic.twitter.com/5yqr9FnKfk
— Drishika Chander (@ChanderDrishika) May 10, 2023
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Hard work and success
This is an industry where success is interdependent on other crafts. Was Drishika prepared for this journey?
Well, she grew up in the industry and knew what it takes to be on this platform.
“Mental and physical strength is something that everyone needs. I was aware of it. Subconsciously, I always knew that it wouldn’t be an easy ride. I was not mentally prepared to take it up but was open to growing with every step I took. Honestly, we all are never prepared; we learn on the way,” she said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
“When I started my journey in this industry, I knew I needed ten times the amount of mental and physical strength, and I would learn from my ups and downs. I am part of this film (A Beautiful Girl) because of director Ravi Prakash,” she added.
About hard work, Drishika Chander noted that every profession has its own ups and downs.
“There is also something called luck. But I think whatever we do, we need to do it wholeheartedly with pure intentions. What is meant for us will find its way to us. That’s how I look at life,” she signed off.
