Interview: Had to wait over a year after my debut to sign Kantara, says Sapthami Gowda

“Though I was recognised and appreciated for my debut film, I was consciously waiting for my next project. I kept getting several offers but the moment I got a call from Rishabh Shetty, I was so thrilled for I knew it would be worth the wait,” she said.

“I always admired his wide range of works, be it as an actor or a filmmaker, and mostly his sense of filmmaking.”

Sapthami Gowda goes on to add that till the day of Kantara’s muhurat, she was not sure whether she is being cast in the film.

Sapthami takes lessons on Tulunadu culture

Sapthami Gowda in a still from ‘Kantara’. (Supplied)

“In July 2021, Rishab called me to tell about his next film and asked if I was interested in it. Soon, a look test followed since the character I played is of Tulunadu origin with a completely different dialect,” she recollected.

“Though a Kannadiga, I was unaware of the unique culture and traditions of Tulunadu. Hence, a workshop was organised for me to pick up the nuances required to do justice to the role of Leela.”

For months, Sapthami started observing and conversing with everyone in the new dialect she had started learning.

“However, I was never told whether I will be playing Leela. But on the day of muhurat, when journalists started asking me about my role, Rishab finally broke the news to me. I was not only surprised but also shocked,” she quipped.

Kantara also stars Achyuta Kumar, Kishore, and Pramod Shetty in the lead, apart from a host of theatre artists.

“It was not only great to experience the culture and traditions of the coastal region, but I also learnt a lot from seasoned actors. “Most exciting was to witness the actors who are quite active in theatres perform with such ease. They have the great ability to instantly improve any scene,” she said.

“Thanks to Rishabh Shetty and his faith in me, I could do some justice to the role of Leela. I couldn’t have asked for more with the audience showering their love for the lead characters: Shiva and Leela,” Sapthami added.

Kantara’s Tulu version soon

Sapthami Gowda and Rishab Shetty in a still from ‘Kantara’. (Supplied)

Unlike many other pan-India ventures, Kantara was initially made in Kannada to be released in Karnataka and other states, and overseas with subtitles.

However, with word-of-mouth publicity and immense appreciation from critics and audiences across India, the flick has also been dubbed in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil.

With greater demand from the Tulunadu area, the makers have decided to dub it in Tulu soon.

The team was confident that the audience would appreciate their honest work but never expected that it would turn out to be a massive hit.

“Right now, I am going through a wonderful phase interacting and meeting the Kantara audience. I am overwhelmed with the reception that we, as a team, are being showered with,” the actor said.

On what’s next for her as an actress, Sapthami said, she goes to her inner circle for advice. “I do not want to make any hasty decisions but informed ones.”

“Presently, I’m eating a lot of sugar candies as I am busy with Kantara promotional activities,” she signed off.