The popular fairytale of a young brave girl who fights against all odds in her life — Kinnari (meaning ‘fairy’ in English ) is undergoing a big change from the coming episodes. The youngest lead character Mani played by the little Disha Ram, is now all grown up and is being replaced by a teenager who is currently pursuing her mechanical engineering in nammooru, and even has plans to work in Hollywood. The girl from the coastal town of Kundapura — Bhoomika Shetty speaks with Bengaluru Chronicle on being the new Mani, and more.
“I had earlier acted briefly for a serial in a guest role but this one is my full-fledged acting debut as an actress. In fact, I had appeared for one of the auditions for Colors Kannada. However, I got a call from them a year later saying that they are looking for a new face for the popular character in Kinnari. Thereafter, I auditioned without any expectations but I was asked to come back for the screen tests before I was finalised,” says Bhoomika Shetty.
The actress who is currently pursuing her mechanical engineering at AMC College of Engineering, adds that ever since she was a child, she always wanted to get into acting. Her family insisted that she completed her education and found a job in a reputed company. “I learned Yakshagana, which is the traditional theatre form which is very popular in our coastal region which combines various forms of arts — dance and music among others. It is usually the men who perform the art but in school there was no such bar to learn and perform the art as the part of school competition. I learnt it along with Bharatanatyam, which even my family was supportive about. Later, I continued my studies and chose mechanical engineering,” she says, adding that it surprised her family when she opted for the field despite being a girl.
Bhoomika explains that apart from the art, she was always fascinated with machines. It was my mother, who stood by me and encouraged me to fulfill my acting dreams and now I am living it. As far as acting in a TV serial is concerned, it demands at least 20 days in a month, and sometimes round the clock presence at the shoot. But the pretty girl is confident that she will manage to be both an actor and a student. “I have spoken with the principal of my college, who has assured me that if I could manage studies while also acting, there may not be a problem. My father runs a hotel in Dharward and my mother stays with my younger brother in my hometown and I live here with my friends,” says Bhoomika.
When it comes to acting, Bhomika feels that it is not as easy as one assumes it to be. “There is always a lot of expectations from actors while facing the actual camera.” Before heading back to acting and studies, the teenager who has also managed to learn animation, signs off by saying that she has even dreams to work in Hollywood projects in the future.
