From playing complex characters in Kannada cinema to making her mark in Tamil and Telugu films, Chaitra J Achar has been steadily carving a niche for herself across industries. with 418Her first horror film, she steps into a darker, more challenging role that pushes her beyond familiar territory. In this exclusive chat with NDTV, the engineer-turned-actress talks about her choices, her appetite for challenging roles and much more.
418 KGF is a Telugu film produced by director Prashanth Neel, directed by Keertan, a close associate of the director, and produced by Mithri Movie Makers.
Talking about the film, which marks her Telugu debut, an excited Chaitra reveals that she is playing a lead role as Devika in the film, and adds, “Initially, she told me that the character would have very little screen time, but eventually the role increased because the scenes were so good. I told her that the length of the role did not impress me; however, her directorial preparation did not impress me. I came up with a scene-by-scene mood board, as I had already seen the film before it was made, that I imagined during the story.
for toby The role of the actor, Devika, was challenging and involved learning a lot of new skills.
From debuting in Kannada cinema in 2019 and making a name for himself in films toby And Sapat Sagradache EloShe is now making her mark in Telugu and Tamil cinema. Was it a conscious move?
“It happened organically. I have always been a fan of Tamil films and admired the glory of Telugu cinema. I knew I wanted to explore different languages, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon after Rakshit Shetty’s film. Sapat Sagradache Elo. The film was dubbed in all South Indian languages and reached an audience we never imagined. Sometimes I think Tamil and Telugu audiences have seen it more than Kannada audiences. The reception has been fantastic, and these characters have put me on the map across South Indian cinema and even in Hindi,” he explained.
One aspect of her career that Chaitra is clear about is that she has deliberately accepted the roles she accepts. So, has he turned down lucrative offers and big films because the characters weren’t compelling enough? Chaitra says, “Absolutely! I have turned down opportunities from big production houses because I didn’t get anything important to play. I ask myself how a script will help me grow as an actor, what is the position of my character and how important is the character to the film. On the other hand, I have also done short films for free because I saw value in them. How important to me is how tall my character is in the film. A well-written character leaves an impact. Whether it’s five minutes or 50 minutes of screen time.”
Every character he plays is different from his previous film, and in Tamil, it shows clearly. 3BHK, my lord And Messiah Murku 2. She wants to surprise the audience with every film, and military The actor attributes this to her rebellious streak.
She laughs and says, “I’ve always been a rebel. If someone tells me I can’t do something, I want to do it. It has nothing to do with my profession. I would probably be the same in any other field. I love acting, and I’m passionate about this profession. Once I’ve done something, I don’t want to repeat it and want to get a challenge to see myself in a different experience. The character will challenge me and Different women attract me because they enjoy playing.
Chaithra and fellow Kannada actress Rukmini Vasanth, who both starred Sapat Sagradache Elo, has successfully crossed linguistic boundaries to make a mark in other South Indian film industries. Hardly any Kannada actress has achieved this feat in recent years; Is he proud of this fact?
“I don’t know how to describe it. It happened slowly, and we—Rukmini and I—have always been fans of films in all languages. We wanted to work with people in other industries, and when the opportunity came, we were ready to try. When I started working in Tamil and Telugu, I didn’t know either language, but I was willing to take opportunities to learn there. Given that I know how lucky we are, whether the films are big or not. Little ones,” she says gratefully.
But she also believes that their success can open doors for other Kannada actors in other film industries and asserts, “When the audience recognizes someone from Kannada cinema, they can start watching more Kannada films and discover other artists as well. That’s what happened with us. Sapat Sagradache Elo. If people discover us through a film, they can discover other actors in the industry.”
as the blink Signing off the actor, she says, “I’m a workaholic. I might sit idle for a day or two after a shoot, but after that, I start wondering why I’m not working. There are so many directors, actors and stories I want to be a part of. I’m greedy for those opportunities, and I hope I grab all that I possibly can. To be a part of great stories and different characters.” Keep exploring!