Vidisha Srivastava all set for the release of her upcoming film 'Viraat'

After experiencing the limelight of theatres at her hometown in Uttar Pradesh, this gorgeous lass moved to Mumbai. It was her aspiration to become an actress, though her journey started as a model. Vidisha Srivastava then moved to South India in search of the right opportunities. With a degree in biotechnology and a course in business management, Vidisha started her career as early as 2006, making her debut in Telugu and later in Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam before she went back to modelling.

Even as her long pending film Viraat (meaning massive) alongside Challenging Star Darshan is finally set for release after it was launched in early 2012, the model-turned-actress speaks to Bengaluru Chronicle, about herself, modelling, acting and her special bond with her younger sister Shanvi Srivastava, and much more.

“Yes, it (Viraat) is finally releasing. I had almost lost hope that the film will ever see the light of day, as there were some portions of the film pending to be shot, and it kept getting postponed and later went into cold storage. I was waiting for its release as it was a huge break for me, but eventually, I took up some promising modelling contracts which kept me away from films for almost three years,” says Vidisha who’s last film Devaraya released in Telugu in 2012.

Vidisha, who loves to paint and sketch apart from dancing, aspires to become a bankable actor. She plays a simple girl who believes in spreading the message of love in Viraat. “The character I play in Viraat is similar to that of Mother Teresa, helping everyone and being charitable. She falls in love with the protagonist. Unlike the other two female protagonists in the film who portray glamorous roles, I will be seen in a more traditional avatar,” she adds, hoping that the film does well, resulting in more opportunities and the right kind of projects.

With so much love and admiration since her debut down south, the actress has always loved south Indian films for various reasons — from being technically strong, well-planned and always finishing on time. “It was only Viraat which took some time to finish, but in the meanwhile, I did a lot of good modelling assignments which brought me a lot of recognition in the industry. It has been my bread and butter, and something which I always love to do,” she says.

She shares a special bond with her younger sister Shanvi Srivastava, who is also an actress, who is currently on a winning streak with back-to-back hits in Kannada including Masterpiece. Shanvi has also bagged a film opposite Golden Star Ganesh directed by Ramesh Aravind, a multilingual project on the life of cricketer Sreesanth and the latest being Saheba alongside debutant Manoranjan, the son of Crazy Star V Ravichandran. Vidisha says, “We are not just sisters, we are also best friends. I was the one who came first into the industry, and now she is doing so well. I am very happy about her growth and the way she is doing great with her films. It’s mutual admiration for both of us. I was there for her when she needed me the most and now she is there for me,” she says hoping that they both get an opportunity to work alongside each other.

The actress who was headed to Bengaluru to shoot for a song which was recently added as an additional attraction in Viraat reveals that unlike Shanvi, who is very strict with her diet and exercise, she is blessed with an amazing metabolism. “Honestly, I am bit lazy when it comes to exercise and intense workouts. I am a big foodie and I eat a lot but I rarely put on weight. I do not suggest that others follow my way as I guess I am lucky. I only wish I can do something good every year which makes people around me happy,” she hopes.