RAO & the art of filmi fervour

Growing up, when someone asked her the predictable, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, Bhavana Rao’s answer was probably something that they’d never have predicted — she always wanted to be an actor. And now, she believes that it was always her destiny.

The actress is excited about the reactions she’ll see for her “most glamorous” role yet in Tiger Galli starring Ninasam Sathish and Roshni Prakash slated for release next month. She tells us more in a candid chat.

“This is the first time I’m playing a very glamorous role,” opens up the actress who made her debut to critical acclaim with Gaalipata. “I’m sure people will wonder — because this role is far from the little girl I played in that film,” she quips. Calling it ‘authentically bold’, the Shimoga-born lass, says she went out of her comfort zone, “I wanted to get out of my safe zone. It’s an out-and-out commercial film for the masses — there’s action, comedy, song and dance. Let me just tell you, it doesn’t really have a social message and is not preachy — so it’s a film meant to entertain.”

While she waits for the release of this Ravi Srivatsa directorial, her year is packed with action – there’s Rohit Padaki’s romantic drama with Raghu Mukherjee called Dayavittu Gamanisi, Satya Harischandra with Sharan and Jogi Prem’s Gandhigiri, all set to hit the silverscreen in the next couple of months.

“When I started out, there weren’t many independent or short films. I’m so glad that they are being made in Kannada and to great appreciation. I’m just greedy for good cinema,” she says, hoping to someday star in her dream role – that of a Kabbadi player in a sports biopic. While we think that’s pretty specific, she explains, “I used to watch my friend as she played – rolling around in the dirt and with so much intensity. I was struck.”  

A trained Bharatanatyam and Western dancer, acting came naturally to Bhavana, but not easily. “My parents were sceptical. They always thought that it was a big, bad world. It’s only now that I’m introducing them that they know there are intelligent and educated people in the industry as well,” she says. She believes that it was dance that helped her on screen too. “It built my confidence and body language. Of course, there are downsides to it because I tend to overact like I’m on stage and the director should ask me to not open my eyes or mouth that wide,” laughs the live-wire.

As a way of giving back to the skill that taught her the most, she now runs a dance and fitness studio at Dollar’s Colony. “I want to be a choreographer too. We’ve started our own classical-contemporary team called Nritya Nirantara. It’s a different kind of joy to see your work come to life,” she smiles.

Bhavana doesn’t even find the need to unwind, as she says, “I feel like I’m living my dream every day, so it doesn’t feel like work. But when I need to relax, I am your typical homebody — I like to wake up late, eat without thinking about diets or gym and watch a good movie.”

Until then, she admits that there are a lot of boxes to be checked. “I’m only getting started. I’ve a long way to go,” she says, in conclusion.