The Rise and Rise of Neha!

Neha Shetty is one of the hottest properties in Tollywood! Her line up of films and the growing number of followers she commands are indications of her increasing fame. Her latest release, Bedurulanka 2012, has turned out to be a runaway success at the box office, her second in a row after DJ Tillu (2022). She says she’s grateful to the audience for showering her with so much love.

“I think I was the most nervous person in the entire team at the time of release. But the amount of love pouring in for me and my films is overwhelming,” she says.

The Kartikeya-starrer was supposed to come out early this year but had to be pushed back for technical reasons. “There’s a dialogue in the film that says ‘anni manchike jaruguthayi (everything happens for good). I guess that’s what happened. All’s well that ends well,” she shares, adding that the confidence and belief they had in the film got them where they are.

The super success of the film has taken Neha’s image to the next level, making her Tollywood’s poster girl. Ask her how she is enjoying this fame, and she replies she’d be lying if she says she’s not on Cloud Nine. “After the super success of DJ Tillu, I signed three films on the trot, and I feel each one set a new benchmark. This turnaround is something I never expected, so it feels unreal at times,” she admits, adding that it also makes her feel empowered.  

However, a couple of years ago, there was a point when Neha found the going really tough. She took a break for six months and pursued an acting course at the New York Film Academy (NYFA). At NYFA, Neha learnt that the emotions of the characters have to be understood. So observing people was important. “I was asked to go to parks and observe people there. I became more observant. And my biggest takeaway from NYFA is that I need to build on the talent I have and turn my negatives into positives,” she reveals.

“Soon after that, I was offered the role of Radhika in DJ Tillu. It was challenging because Radhika speaks a lot with her eyes while I am garrulous in real life. So I needed to unlearn several things for the part. That’s when my transformation began,” she explains. “People started calling me Radhika, so when the audience identifies you with your character, it’s an achievement,” Neha believes. DJ Tillu had a few intimate scenes but the actor says they are in sync with the character and script.

Neha has no qualms about admitting that she has made mistakes during the five years of her journey so far. While she regrets doing a few films early in her career, she feels everything happens for a reason.

When Covid happened Neha began a process of introspection, to see how she could make a comeback. “When I was offered DJ Tillu, I decided to give it my best shot and apply what I learnt at NYFA. I feel that while I’ve come a long way, there’s still a long way to go,” she smiles, but quickly adds, “Generally, we forget to appreciate ourselves, but I want to give myself a pat for effort, and for my transformation.”

Ask Neha what she ascribes her turnaround to, and she says it is a combination of grit, hard work and belief. At the start of her career, she didn’t know how to judge a script, and how important every narration can turn out to be. “Initially, I was looking at cast, production house, etc. But I am very sure now that I want to listen to every script,” she reveals. “My physical transformation, shedding kilos, was because of the characters I played, and thankfully, people have appreciated my roles,” she adds.

Away from films, Neha likes to travel and watch films, especially old ones, to learn the intricacies of acting. Dancing is another stress-buster.