Many current leading actors and actresses in the Telugu cinema come from acting schools. However, Chetana seems different. Belonging to a film family, she did not take up any coaching for acting. She has done a lot of Telugu theatre and has also learnt Kuchipudi. Chetana’s upcoming flick, Pichiga Nachav, where she is debuting as the lead, is being directed by another debutant, Sashibhushan. “I have acted in nearly 15 films as a child artiste,” says Chetana. After her VIII standard, she stopped acting to focus on her studies.
Chetana’s father, Uttej, is a popular character artiste and has worked as assistant director with Ram Gopal Varma on several films. She is clear that she does not want to get offers through her father’s influence. “My father knows many directors, but he has never asked anyone to consider me. If they feel I am fit for a role, they will contact me,” says the actress.
Outsiders generally have a negative opinion about the film industry and very few families are willing to send their daughters into the film line. “Whatever the field is, it all depends on the person. I know what I am doing and more over my parents know me. If I like it here, I will continue to work, otherwise I will come out of it all,” says Chetana.
In other film industries such as Hindi and Tamil, there are star daughters who are entering into films, but in Telugu the trend is very low. Elaborating on this, she says, “In Hindi, families know that the industry is not bad, so they are comfortable with their children working in this field. In future, I am confident many actresses will foray into the Telugu film industry as well.”
When asked if the industry is hero-dominated and if most films are the typical formula films, she quips, “That’s true. But there also are films such as Pelli Choopulu and Uyyala Jumpala. I am looking for only lead roles. I am ready to play small roles but they should be prominent. Also, I prefer more off-beat films, and that’s why I am trying in Tamil films as well.”
Chetana was approached for this Telugu film after the makers saw her photographs and her video on YouTube. “There was no audition test for me. After I got the script, I read it nearly seven to eight times. My father has always advised me, not to try to act, but to behave like the character,” she says.
Talking about her film, which is releasing on Friday, she says, “I am excited as I want to see myself on the big screen. Nowadays, if a film runs from Friday to next Friday, it’s a good sign. I hope my film runs for more time than that. The result is not in our hands, but I am happy if people appreciate my performance.”
