Sukumar is my mentor: Pujita Ponnada

After making waves in the short film circuit, actress Pujita Ponnada eventually ventured into the silver screen with Sukumar’s production venture, Darshakudu. While the film didn’t fare well at the box office, it opened up avenues for her. In fact, Sukumar was so impressed with the young artiste that he offered her a key role in his upcoming period drama Rangasthalam, where she’s paired opposite Aadhi Pinisetty.

“This is my third collaboration with Sukumar garu after working in an advertisement he directed Darshakudu. I have always thought of him as my mentor and would love to work with him at every given opportunity. I must add, I signed this film without knowing much about my role only because it was Sukumar garu who asked me to do it,” she shares.

However, Pujita doesn’t discount that this is her first big film and sees it as something to be cherished. “Working with amazing actors like Ram Charan and Aadhi was quite an experience. I have a lot of expectations from this film,” she tells us.

The actress recalls how Sukumar once asked her about her Class 10 and 12 boards, and when she told him of her high scores, he was quite happy. “He thought that would make it easy for me to remember my lines,” she says with a laugh.

We ask Pujita about her journey thus far and whether being a Telugu girl has proved to be an advantage, to which she thoughtfully replies, “The opportunities are not unlimited. The situation has slightly improved but there is still some hesitation when it comes to commercial cinema. I have observed that even for remakes, they cast non-local girls, forgetting that nativity is the soul of such films.”

Meanwhile, after Rangasthalam, Pujita will be seen in Happy Wedding co-starring Niharika Konidela and Sumanth Ashwin and she also has Maruthi Talkies’ Brand Babu in the pipeline. 

“It’s a variety of roles that I am getting to play. I am very excited,” she signs off.