Lok, stock & evoking on reel

This actress made an introductory appearance in Parichaya. And that literally sealed the deal for Sindhu Loknath! What started her roll call in reel life with the popular Lifeu Ishtene has led her on to the upcoming film Heegondu Dina, an uncut venture, before she gets ready for a vanishing act in Kanadanthe Mayavadanu. Sindhu even made her debut in Sandalwood’s first-ever web-series Loose Connection produced by RJ-turned-filmmaker Pradeep. The actress with a career spanning over six years in the film industry, speaks about her filmy connections, especially the most recent incident wherein the producer of her upcoming film Heegondu Dina was in the middle of needless controversy when he had said that compromise and commitments in the film industry are taking away good opportunities for actors like Sindhu.

“What he (the producer) was referring to was based on a few incidents in the industry, and this is an open secret (about the casting couch). For laymen, the general perception about films is not positive. Even before I made my debut, my family members were scared. However, apart from stray incidents which have come to light in the media, I have so far not personally experienced any such incidents. Moreover, such things cannot and should not be generalised among actors,” says Sindhu Loknath.

About missing out on good projects, and big breaks, Sindhu says that in her case, it has been an issue with dates. “I have missed out on quite a few good projects which went onto do well. Films like Simpleaag Ondh Love Story and Charminar were initially offered to me but I was busy with three back-to-back films —Drama, Jai Bajranga Bali and Yare Kugadali. But the biggest miss was Bhajarangi. I was offered the character which was later essayed by Aindrita Ray opposite Shivanna. I had met with an accident, and was not in a condition to take it up. Even the Bhajarangi team could not wait for my return,” she says.

The actress points out that a production house waiting for an actress to work in their project is a very rare phenomenon. “A film team will wait for a hero to cast him in a particular film but very rarely in the case of an actresses/heroine. They soon find another replacement,” she adds. She recently made her debut in Sandalwood’s first-ever web-series Loose Connections produced by RJ Pradeep, directed by Raghu Shastry, Sham Khan and Haisn Khan. Apart from her, it features Sunil Raoh, Anupama Gowda, and others.

“When we started, we were doubtful about its reach, but the enormous response has boosted prospects. With Internet and mobile technology, the audience has become a bit lazy to watch a film in a theatre. All they want is short and instant entertainment. Earlier, films would run for more than four hours with 12 songs, and it eventually came down to four, and now even a song is treated as a break by the audience,” Sindhu explains.

On compromise and commitments or the existence of the casting couch, she feels that acting is a noble profession and it should not be generalised for everyone in the industry. In Heegondu Dina, Sindhu plays yet another challenging character in an uncut film which runs nonstop for two hours. She also has another film in the making Kanadanthe Mayavadanu, made by director Yograj Bhat’s team.