The saga of siblings

There are many siblings who have made it big in the film industry and the Kannada film industry too has its share of siblings who are very supportive of each other despite being in the same profession. There’s no competition and no sibling rivalry between them. In fact, they say that they look out for each other and are sometimes fiercely protective of each other as well.   

Star siblings say that they feel comfortable being around each other in a highly competitive industry and also confess that they draw a lot of support and strength from each other. Actors Nikki and Sanjjanaa Galrani are popular not only in the Kannada film industry but they’ve also made a name for themselves in other language industries. “We are not heroines at home, Sanjjanaa is my sister and my best friend,” says Nikki. So how does she feel having an older sibling around in the same profession? “We may be stars for an outsider but we are like any other siblings who fight and are always there for each other. It’s a beautiful world when we are together in our home,” adds Nikki.

Do they discuss work and their choice of scripts? Sanjjanaa pitches in, “We talk about work and have healthy discussions about where we are heading in our respective careers. Nikki will always remain my kid sister, no matter how big a star she is.” And are they always at the risk of being compared? Sanjjanaa says, “There may be people outside who compare the two of us but we don’t bother about comparisons and are confident about our abilities and see a great support system in each other.”

The best part about being an actor is that you get to play different characters and experiment with looks. Actors Vijay Raghavendra and his brother SriiMurali have experimented a great deal both on and off screen. They didn’t begin their careers together but they have both made it big through sheer hardwork. Vijay says, “I always remember Murali to be very protective about me and he continues to be so even to this day. There’s no tension or stress when Murali is around. Commercially, Murali is way ahead of me after working in films like ‘Ugramm’ and ‘Rathavara’. I am proud of him,” says Vijay. SriiMurali feels being around Vijay is like being in a comfort zone. “It’s a good feeling when Vijay is with me. I know that I can lean on him at any time,” he says. The brothers have acted together in ‘Minchina Ota’ but we haven’t seen them together after that. Why? “There’s no particular reason. But there’s something coming up and people may get to see us work together again,” shares SriiMurali. The brothers discuss scripts and offer suggestions to each other that would help them grow in their respective careers.  

Kannada filmmaker and producer Rajendra Singh Babu’s children Aditya and Rishika Singh began their career in the film industry quite early. Aditya not only acts but has also ventured into production and Rishika will soon turn a director after working on a couple of films. “Both of us have the big responsibility of taking forward the family legacy. Rishika and I discuss work and there’s always mutual exchange of information about cinema. If I find a good piece of work, I immediately recommend it to her,” says Aditya. Rishika, on the other hand, says, “Aditya is always my final verdict.” She adds, “He doesn’t interfere in my work and we keep that mutual respect for each other’s work. If I make a mistake and he corrects me, then I take it in my stride.”

Sisters Vaibhavi, Vainidhi and Vaisiri, children of actors Vijayalakshmi Singh and Jai Jagadish, will be seen acting together in ‘Yaanaa’. The three sisters say that the best thing about working together is that they get honest feedback about each other’s work and grow together. Vaibhavi says, “There’s a sense of comfort in knowing that my sisters will give me an honest opinion about my work. They will always be my best critics.” Vainidhi pitches in saying that she is thrilled to be starting her career with her sisters. Does she get compared with them? “The three of us can never escape being compared with each other but we know our capabilities and strengths. So we aren’t really bothered about what people have to say about us. I also believe that everybody should be treated equally because each one is unique,” she says. Vaisiri says acting with her sisters is a dream come true for her. “I lean on my sisters when the going gets tough. We have always motivated each other to giving our best to everything,” adds Vaisiri.