She had it all planned — after completing an MBA from Auckland in 2015, she aspired for a good job in Melbourne, and later settle down. However, after participating in a beauty pageant — Miss India New Zealand during her break from academics, her destiny changed forever. Her new plans eventually led her back to her roots in India. Born in Bengaluru, she has lived in New Zealand along with her parents since the age of six. Latha Hegde made her acting debut a year ago in Telugu, and is now finally realising her dream of acting in a Kannada film, Athiratha opposite Chetan. The NRI, who is also an animal activist speaks exclusively about her Kannada venture, and how films helped her get back to her roots, and bond with her family here.
“Ever since making my acting debut in a Telugu movie, I have been living in my hometown in New Zealand. I have so far visited home only thrice since the previous year. I never had any aspiration to become an actress. In fact, I had everything planned, and with a MBA degree, I was all set to search for a decent job in Melbourne. However, when I contested in a beauty pageant, some of my photos reached the filmmaker, and that is how I ended up being a part of the Telugu film. I initially took it up to give it an honest shot. The acting profession was not something I enjoyed much, as I felt I was being thrown into an ocean with no idea on what to expect,” says Latha Hegde.
Following her debut, the actress was offered a film in Tamil which she took very seriously, and even underwent formal training to learn the art. However, she was very eager to be a part of a Kannada film but it took a little time till director Mahesh Babu offered her a film which suited her real life personality as an NRI.
“I was so eager to do a Kannada film but it took some time until director Mahesh Babu approached me through my Telugu film makers. I was thrilled as my favourite Kannada film in the recent past has always been Arasu which was incidentally directed by him. It was a combination of my favourite director and a good script that impressed me to finally be a part of a Kannada film. I essay the role of an NRI, who is confident, outspoken and handles issue with boldness, which is also like me in real life,” she smiles, adding that since Kannada is her mother tongue and even though she has been living abroad since childhood, she was very comfortable acting in Kannada. She is even dubbing her own voice for the Kannada film Athiratha opposite Chetan of Aa Dinaglu fame, directed by Mahesh Babu.
Further, working in a Kannada film has led her back to her roots, bonding with her family members from Bengaluru. “I had been aloof, and had never stayed in touch with many of my family back in Bengaluru. Now, I feel closer than ever to my relatives,” Latha shares.
Apart from Athiratha and her Tamil venture, she had even signed a film with Diganth in the lead which is yet to take off. The actress, who is also an animal activist shares that during her stay in New Zealand, she worked in various orgnisations for animal rights, and also adopted stray dogs. A pure vegetarian, she signs off saying that her work has kept her busy, and soon she will find time to help animals in India too.
