Cooking sparks of a cine career

Her love for cooking led to stardom on the small screen! Yes, it was cooking that eventually saw Pallavi Gowda taste success and become a household name. Almost five years ago, she made her small screen debut through one of the longest running daily soaps Mane Ondu Mooru Bagilu. Despite several offers to act in films, she finally chose to make a small entry, and now she is also making her mark in films with her second venture Kidi (meaning spark) which is ready for release. A couple of daily soaps both in Kannada and Telugu are also keeping her busy. She speaks with Bengaluru Chronicle about her journey starting from cooking to acting.

“I got several offers while studying in college, but my parents were initially not happy about me getting into acting due to the obvious reasons and apprehensions about the film industry. However, my love for cooking led me into it. Though, I am not a foodie, I love cooking and experimenting with new recipes. I usually carry an extra lunch box to share with classmates at Arabindo Collge (where I did my diploma in animation). A close friend who worked in TV kept requesting me to showcase my cooking talent and finally, I did! What followed next was my acting journey — it’s been almost five years now,” says Pallavi Gowda.

The actress presently features in serials Jodi Hakki, Parinaya, and another film in Telugu apart from her second Kannada film Kidi that is ready for release.
“While doing a Telugu daily soap, I had the opportunity to work in my first Kannada film Prema Geema Jane Do. Right now, I am excited about my new small venture in Kannada titled Jodi Hakki where I essay a negative character for the first time with two shades — an innocent and a greedy persona. It is colourfully presented too,” she says, adding that Parinaya is other TV soap on Kasturi.

Her film is the remake of the Malayalam hit film Kali. “I had a great time shooting for Kidi. It was mostly shot at night in the interiors of Chikamagalur and surrounding areas. When I was initially called for selection, I was tense as I had been through a rough time suffering from skin burns after working for weeks in Hyderabad. I was doubtful but they said I suited the character perfectly and I was thrilled. I am hopeful that Kidi will get a good response,” Pallavi shares.

After a few appearances on TV, she was noticed by senior actor Sundarsri, who advised her to act in TV serials. “I had no knowledge about acting but Sundarsri maam helped me gain confidence. Serials like Gaalipata, Pasupu Kumkuma in Telugu made me comfortable and the audience started recognising my work. Though working in a serial is demanding, I love both film and TV. Watching cinema is an individual choice, where as TV has a huge audience that follows us on the journey if they like our work,” Pallavi signs off, who says that that cooking still remains her first love and she also hopes to realise her dream of learning dance soon.