She has no modelling background and neither does this lissome lass have any filmi connections. Yet, she has managed to make an impact with some versatile roles as an actress. Shwetha Srivatsav has a master’s degree in mass communication, and took to theatre as a child, working on the small screen before graduating to the film industry. Though she made a decent debut, it was the simple journey — Simpleaag Ondh Love Story (SOLS) which brought her fame and recognition.
The actress who leads Sumana Kittur’s directorial Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu, speaks to Bengaluru Chronicle about playing Danamma in a film which is based on the popular short story by leading Kannada writer, the late Poorna Chandra Tejaswi. Shwetha also gets candid about her journey so far, her dreams to direct and much more.
“I always wanted to do something different in every movie. I do not want to get into the same clichéd heroine category. This is why I waited after my debut, and then Fair and Lovely happened in which I played the role of a sex worker,” she recalls.
“I took up the film as it showcased the other side of the prostitution racket without making it vulgar. It was a challenge, of course. Strangely though, ever since my acting was appreciated, I have started getting only roles essaying sex workers. After Fair and Lovely, almost every movie made on sex workers was offered to me first,” says Shwetha who has a strong theatre connection as her father L Krishnappa is a well-known senior personality in theatre.
The actress reveals that it was her father who pushed her to pursue theatre during school and this also helped her develop interest in art. “I was studying in the third standard when I first did a small role in a play. My father was very close to Karanth’s family and I think of Karanth as my grandfather. I still remember Prema Karanath amma watching a performance, and saying that I was tailormade to be an actor, and that I should never quit the profession,” the proud girl adds.
As far as Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu is concerned, Shwetha is thrilled with it. Recollecting when Sumana Kittur called her for the project, she says, “I could not have asked for more. The film is based on a short story by my favourite writer Poorna Chandra Tejaswi. Agni Sridhar Sir has written the screenplay, and the talented Sumana Kittur directs it. I had no experience about village life but observing that way of life closely, I was inspired by Dr Rajkumar and Vishnu Sir’s classic movies. This, along with Sumana’s great understanding of village life made it easy for me to portray Danamma. I had to follow her. Though, there is a director in me, I never impose my perspective on others.”
As Danamma in Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu, Shwetha plays a strong character who raises her voice against injustice, and influences other ladies in the village to stand for justice (against their husbands and the system).
She feels that until her college days, she never took acting seriously but when she watched more and more world cinema, she started developing an interest. “Initially, many would call me mad but I believed in following my dreams,” she says. Despite gaining recognition in offbeat roles, Shweta also loves glamorous roles, especially romantic and comedy ones. “It’s not just acting that gets me going but the whole process of film making,” she adds. While she has not committed to any other project currently, she seems to be enjoying the new phase in her life, even though financially, it’s not been such a windfall.
