JOIN USI had been trying to get actress Radhika Pandit for an interview for a while, but somehow our schedules never matched. However, when we did manage to catch up, I was pleasantly surprised to talk to a young woman who is not only vocal about her views, but is also warm and fun-loving. It is little wonder then that she is often tagged as the number one actress of Sandalwood. However, Radhika prefers to let her work do the talking.
When asked if a career in movies was on her mind while growing up , Radhika says, “Growing up, films were only a source of entertainment. In fact, I was not even a movie buff.” It was while Radhika was pursuing her Bachelors in Commerce and was part of her college dance team that a friend randomly suggested auditioning for a TV show. “Back then, I was a drama queen and was in that phase when I wanted to try everything, so I decided to go for it. I got the part easily.”
The quick start
As the leading lady of the soap opera Nandagokula, directed by Ashok Kashyap, Radhika admits she enjoyed the attention she started getting off-screen, and after doing the TV show Sumangali, she had an offer to act in movies. “I debuted in Moggina Manasu in 2008.”
Incidentally, this film also earned her the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress and she soon followed it up with movies like Love Guru (2009), Krishnan Love Story (2010), Hudugaru (2011), Addhuri (2012), Drama (2012), Bahaddur (2014) and Mr and Mrs Ramachari (2014) among many others.
Radhika says that she would rather work on fewer films and be remembered for her memorable performances than take on several projects at once. “I select the scripts only if I like the subject and my role. I would never do a movie because I feel obligated to do it. I always read the script and try to understand if I would like to watch the movie myself.”
She also adds that the industry has largely evolved over the last seven years. “Technically, even in the kind of clothes and type of genres, the industry is evolving for the better. In fact, the audience today is receptive to subjects that are experimental and this gives us courage to make movies that are different.” Considering her busy schedule in Sandalwood, Radhika admits that she has not given a serious thought to work in other languages.
Onscreen chemistry
Her pairing with actor Yash has been much appreciated, and incidentally, both began their careers together on the small screen before foraying into films. The pair, who has acted in superhits like Moggina Manasu, Drama and Mr and Mrs Ramachari, are all set to work in their fourth film together.
“Actually, much has been said about our chemistry, but I have also done three films with Ajai Rao and two with Dhruva Sarja. As far as working with Yash is concerned, yes we know each other from the days of our first television show and I can speak for him too when I say that we only choose the movies based on the subject.”
Radhika has completed shooting for her next Zoom and is also working on Dodmane Huduga.