At a major juncture in her life, after over two decades of experience in systems, software and solutions, Rekha Kudligi decided to explore an unfamiliar world. He felt this was the right time to take a big leap. She was an engineer and scientist by choice, but acting was a dream throughout her career.
After working for a long time in an electronic research and development organization and Honeywell Aerospace in Bengaluru, Rekha took the right step to become a film actor. In 2014, when she moved to Germany, Rekha started doing theater and completed filmmaking courses, writing and making short films to bring herself closer to her big break.
Actress Rekha Kudligi. , Photo courtesy: Ravichandran N.
She credits her development as an actress to her mother, Indumathi Ramamurthy, who introduced her to theater with the Bengaluru-based theater group Misfits. Rekha honed her craft under the guidance of founder and theater coach Ratan Takore Grant. It was through Misfits that he received his first audition call for Danish Sait’s satire series humble politician nograj (2022). Rekha took advantage of the opportunity.
“I had to create a scene where my character breaks down after the death of my husband. The person who auditioned me said that he was so impressed by my performance that he had tears in his eyes. I got selected and it all started from there,” she says.
Rekha thanks her family, including her husband Ravindra Bachalli, son Varun Bachalli and father Dr. Ramamurthy Kudaligi, for standing by her when she fully ventured into acting. “Late bloomers like me need at least 10 years to become established. I had to choose this career as early as possible and my family supported me a lot,” she says.
Rekha Kudligi in ‘Sakutumba Sametha’. , Photo Courtesy: Paramvah Studios/Youtube
After acting in a commercial for Zee Kannada directed by Nithin Krishnamurthy (Hostel Hudugaru Bekagidrefame), came in Rekha’s first leading role Sakutumba Sametha, is a heart-touching relationship drama produced by Rakshit Shetty and directed by debutant Rahul PK, and co-written by Pooja Sudhir.
Rekha plays the role of a middle-class mother who struggles between her catering business and a weak relationship with her husband due to lack of communication. It’s an affecting performance as she makes you feel her plight as a mother running a household and a wife who has lost her emotional connection with her husband.
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The appreciation of her performance in the film convinced Rekha that she belonged in cinema. “After a screening in Mysuru, a couple confessed to me that my story and performance were relevant. In her case, the husband worked in a different city, and they were rarely together for long periods of time. This affected communication between them,” she recalls.
Prithvi Konanur’s Utsav Hit and Critically Acclaimed Hadinelentu Rekha was given a difficult role which she played very well. In the film, two teens face a worrying future after their sex tape is leaked. Rekha, as the duo’s college teacher, plays a character with gray shades very well.
She initially condemns the girl and argues for her dismissal from the university. However, gradually, she begins to feel sympathy for the girl, perhaps realizing the discrimination and injustice she faces due to the social imbalance of power and wealth.
“In the beginning, she was a strict teacher who believed in conservative values. However, in the end, when he realizes that the girl’s life is in danger through no fault of her own, the teacher takes pity on her. I loved playing this intense character.” As we see the high tension in the final act, Rekha plays her role with an effortless subtlety that’s hard not to like.
family drama, A dark comedy, it was a refreshing change for Rekha. Playing a middle-class mother aiming to eliminate a don for money, she delivers a hilarious performance without any excess. “You shouldn’t put too much emphasis on whether people will laugh or not. An actor’s job is to believe in the singularity of the character and surrender to it,” she says.
Sindhu Srinivas Murthy, Abhay and Rekha Kudligi in ‘Family Drama’. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In the film directed by Raj B Shetty Swati Mutthina Male Haniye, Despite a small role, Rekha comes across as an understanding mother. His emotional conversation with Siri, who plays his daughter, is one of the strongest scenes in the film. Rekha has perfectly demonstrated the restraint required for the character.
“I don’t worry about the size of the role. The credit goes to Raj for writing such a sensitive story. My scene with Siri is the turning point of the film. She is in a loveless marriage and talks to her mother about loving another man. She seeks reassurance from her mother about her feelings. It’s a very touching scene that people loved,” she says.
She considers Vidya Balan as her role two and two love One of the biggest opportunities in his career so far. “I still feel like it wasn’t a dream,” says Rekha, who plays Vidya Balan’s mother in the film.
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“We had readings and rehearsal sessions. My co-stars, Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi and Thalaivasal Vijay never made me feel like a newbie. We were like a family. Also, Pratik and I had a lot to share as he is also an engineer who did theater before coming into films. Vidya Balan was curious about my visit. He is a very progressive person!”
Rekha cuddles with Vidya Balan on the sets of ‘Do Aur Do Pyaar’. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Rekha, a subtle actress with the ability to showcase the inner lives of her characters, hopes to play a variety of roles in the future. She admits that working late doesn’t give her enough leverage to reject roles. “I need to take my chances, mainly because I love being on set and learning new things. She said, I have mostly been getting mother or grandmother roles, probably because of my age. I would like to play the role of a lawyer, a policeman or a beggar. I am keen to become versatile,” she says.
Coming from a very rough industry environment, Rekha has a lot to learn in her new profession, “In the corporate circuit, the hierarchy is clear. The focus is on personal goals. However, in the filmmaking process, it is important to be a team player. Ultimately, the synergy between technicians and artistes matters,” she says. Has worked in other notable Kannada films like decorum questionskenda,Andchilli chicken, Rekha hopes to become a popular actress for her unique characters.
published – January 22, 2025 12:35 PM IST
