Despite making an impressive debut in Dhairyam, the pretty actress who hails from Davanagere had to face much rejection and disappointment for a year when she was going through a tough phase in her career. The actress who has two degrees — an engineering and MBA, the enterprising Aditi Prabhudeva then shifted to the small screen for a big budget tele-serial titled Nagakannike. Seems like the snake woman role she portrayed on the small screen was the lucky charm for her career, as she has now turned out to be one of the busiest actresses in Sandalwood. With many projects in her kitty.
Apart from director Suni’s Bazaar, she has also wrapped up a female-oriented saga Operation Nakshatra, while she is also busy shooting for the Navarasa Nayaka starrer Totapuri directed by Vijay Prasad. In addition, she has has also signed on the dotted line opposite Chiranjeevi Sarja in Singa. Aditi speaks exclusively with Bengaluru Chronicle about her fabulous return, and more.
“Though my debut movie was much-appreciated and had a great response from the audience and critics, I faced a tough phase in my career. It was very difficult for me even on personal grounds. However, I was confident and kept waiting for the right project. It was disheartening when local talent is at times ignored, but it taught me to have patience. But when I took on television, and post Nagakannike everything fell into place. I got the best projects, and now I am following it up with back-to-back films which sees me in prominent roles. One year of struggle, and one year of hard work, now my best work will be out in the next one year,” says Aditi Prabhudeva.
She explains that she was not comfortable with the many ultra glamorous character roles she was offered in the initial stage of her career. “I guess I was not ready for a mere glamorous role. I wanted to be noticed for my performance, and not to just look good on screen. Anyone can look good, but it is the performance that satisfies a true artiste. The range of characters I am portraying in the four films are different and challenging,” she adds.
Apart from Bazaar, Aditi has a few interesting characters lined up as well. In Totapuri directed by Vijay Prasad who has delivered hits like Neer Dose, Aditi plays a typical Muslim girl from a village, and in Operation Nakshatra she fights for herself, and her family when her boyfriend, who cheats on her, turns against her. In Singa, which is Uday K Mehtha’s eighth production and is being directed by Vijay Kiran, she dons a village girl’s persona.
“Playing a Muslim girl in Totapuri was a real challenge for me. In fact, big star heroines were supposed to play the role but it eventually came to me. I am glad that filmmakers are approaching me for my ability to perform. After a lot of research and learning the rituals and traditions of Islam, I started shooting to essay Shakeela Baanu,” she says.
In a dilemma whether to accept a female-oriented project at the early stages of her career, she reveals that she took almost a week to say yes to Operation Nakshatra. “All my projects have a message along with entertainment. In Singa too, nobody can guess the climax. It is going to a big one for Chiranjeevi Sarja too,” Aditi shares.
She cannot stop praising the humble and down-to-earth personality of Navarasa Nayaka Jaggesh whom she is cast opposite in Totapuri. “Jaggesh Sir is a bundle of joy, and a great actor who makes every actor feel comfortable irrespective of his role in his film.” On the personal front, Aditi follow a daily exercise routine to boost her confidence and energy, this she feels helps her, “Do good work, and think in the right direction,” she signs off.
