Have you ever wondered what happened to the beautiful jinkemari (meaning fawn in Kannada) whosuccessfully danced into the hearts of Kannada audience with her debut film Nanda Loves Nanditha which released in 2008? Bengaluru’s Nandita Shwetha is now one of the leading ladies of Kollywood with a high track record of hit films. She recently made a record-smashing debut in Tollywood when the entire film industry was reeling under the demonetisation move as well! She speaks exclusively with Bengaluru Chronicle, on her love for acting, on getting offers from Sandalwood and waiting for that big comeback venture, even as she has at least four films releasing this summer.
“Acting was a random decision for me. I was a keen learner even as a student, and my love for the art was evident with good skills at dancing, acting and anything I would take it up. When the makers of Nanda Loves Nanditha asked me to be part of it, I embraced it though I had no knowledge about acting in films nor how they things work in the film industry. It was a huge hit, and when everybody was expecting me to do more films, I choose to learn the art more seriously by taking some time. After three years, another pleasant thing happened when I was offered my debut film in Tamil — Attakathi,” says Nandita Shwetha.
She goes on to add that she knew nothing about Tamil language and was, in fact, nervous after accepting the film. “To be frank, I was nervous. I did not know Tamil but again, I was determined and started learning and now I speak and act fluently in Tamil. Most of them think that I am actually from Tamil Nadu and when I tell them I am a Kannadaiga, they are totally surprised. Again, when I did my first Telugu movie Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada which ran to packed houses when demonetisation was enforced.”
She has certainly achieved a rare feat as an actress hailing from Karnataka doing so well in other languages. Legendary actress B Saroja Devi is another actress from the past who stands tall with an unbreakable record for successfully acting in all south Indian languages and even in Hindi too. “I want to make a comeback in Kannada too with it a bigger venture. It is very important in both Kannada and Telugu industry to work with established filmmakers and actors when making a comeback. I feel proud when audiences from Karnataka still recognise me and appreciate my good works in other languages and want to know when I will return,” Nandita says.
In her upcoming venture, she plays a lady boxer and a cop’s role. If everything goes as planned she may act in the Kannada remake of her debut Telugu super hit film. However, she has presently taken up the Tamil remake of it. She has so far 16 films to her credit of which one in Telugu. “Actors and directors with whom I have acted in Tamil films have gone on to do good work in future. My first film director Pa Ranjith went on to do Kabali, and it feels glad to work with national award filmmakers and great talents. It’s an amazing experience to work so far and the best with deglam characters which offered me ample opportunity to excel as an actor.”
The Bengaluru girl who has an MBA degree wishes to pursue her Ph. D and eventually take up competitive examination such as KAS, and to share the big screen with Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar and Rocking Star Yash, as the jinkemari runs away.
