While audiences have seen Nivetha Pethuraj in chirpy, soft and performance-oriented roles, they can now see her in an edgy role, in her forthcoming film Virata Parvam. Nivetha will play a Naxal in the Venu-Udugula directorial, which also stars Rana Daggubati. The actress, who’s already shot for her parts in the film, clarifies that her role in it is an extended cameo.
“I found my role to be completely unlike those I’ve enacted so far. It is intense, edgy and packed up with action,” elaborates the actress who adds that for her the impact her role creates in driving the narrative is what’s most important. Interestingly, Nivetha only had a three-day shoot schedule for the film. But those three days required her to put in gruelling amounts of hard work.
Nivetha Pethuraj
“This has been the toughest film and the most challenging role in my career so far,” she reiterates. “We were shooting some intense action episodes in the outskirts of the city in the rain during the chilly Hyderabad winter. By the end of the shoot, my body was aching and I was in so much pain,” she recalls, adding that working for the action drama has been an enriching experience.
Discovering around and within her
In the five years she’s been in the industry, which Nivetha terms as ‘satisfying’, the actress has done around 15 films. “Earlier, the shelf life of an actress was around 15 years, which gradually changed to the point that it is difficult for actresses to sustain even for a couple of years. However, times have changed and as actors, we are aware that we need to evolve,” she states.
And in an industry where comparisons are as common as the day, Nivetha has worked at not comparing herself with anyone. “I feel everyone is unique. So also, I only focus on myself and my work because problems begin when you start comparing yourself with others,” she says wisely.
Then, at one point she remembers even rejecting films wondering what she was doing even after five years in the industry. “It could have been perhaps because of the lockdown and the lack of travel. I’m also an avid traveller and have wanted to travel around the world around,” reveals the Ala Vaikuntapuram Lo actress.
“But I’ve gotten over that phase and I’m back and raring to go,” she adds.
Nivetha recalls an anecdote around how she got into films.
“I was travelling solo to Nepal in January 2015 and trekked till Annapurna Base Camp. Several people were asking me why I’m going during the coldest time, but I still went ahead. I even felt sick and my body was aching and my knees were hurting. But after I scaled the peak, the satisfaction I got was inexplicable. I suddenly felt like I had power in me. That’s when I realised travelling is the biggest teacher, and self-love is the key to accomplishments,” she elaborates. “It was then I thought of getting into films and debuted the next year.”
