Another debutante has arrived in Tollywood. Melanie Kannokada, who was born and brought up in Chicago, made her debut in Telugu cinema recently with the crime comedy D for Dopidi. Her family roots are in Kerala, but the actress has settled in Los Angeles. A graduate in mechanical engineering, Melanie’s childhood dream was to become an actress. “When I was in Hyderabad for a screening of an independent film Love Lies and Seeta, Raj and D.K. approached me for 'D for Dopidi',” says Melanie.
Initially, she struggled with the language. “But in the end, with the help of all the unit members, it was easy for me to do the film,” she says.
“It was quite foreign to me and I did take some time for me to adjust,” she says about the experience. “But, very soon I started appreciating Hyderabad and Tollywood.”
She has been approached for a few films, but she wants to wait for the right project. “It’s challenging since I also have projects in the US. But I’m trying to find a balance between both industries,” she says.
Besides acting, Melanie is also an expert in martial arts. She is a pianist and a dancer too.
