Kochi: Six films within the first year of her arrival into tinsel town, lead roles in all four regional south Indian languages, a glamorous modelling background that gives her a fashionista image and a sultry diva of a famous sister who supports her career — and all this at just 22!
Nikki Galrani has arrived. After working with designers and the best directors from the ad world across the country, the former model had decided to take baby steps in filmdom. She was not prepared for the whirlwind journey it has turned out to be.
“I’ve been working non-stop for 15 months, straddling Malayalam, Kannada and now a bilingual in Tamil and Telugu —it’s been an exhilarating ride to say the least. I’m from Bengaluru but, I share a close association with Chennai as my mom is from that city! Even as a kid, I used to pick up language quickly and now I’ve dubbed for myself in my Kollywood debut,” Nikki proudly beams.
Upcoming Tamil film Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka opposite Aadhi, will be her entry into the industry — and it’s even more special as it has Mithun Chakraborty in a supporting role.
“I have learned so much from Aadhi, he has a seriously insane dedication to his craft. YNK’s director is his brother Sathya, and the producer, their dad — but I actually ended up feeling like one of the family at the end of it. Unfortunately, I don’t have any scenes with Mithun da, but the moustache he sports in the film was my selection!” she giggles.
Nikki, who had essayed a rural village girl with pigtails and tanned skin in her Malayalam debut 1983, says this time around, the character is almost exactly true to her own self, “I play myself — an urban, girl-next-door who respects her culture’s values and is homely at heart. I’m not sexy or hot, but the attraction comes from my ability to be independent and surprise others.”
She calls her sister actor Sanjjanaa her support and ‘spine’, Nikki says she is still her 2 am friend and agony aunt, “Nothing has changed between us since I got into films. We are both busy but find time to chat, gossip and be silly sisters ever so often. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.”
