Sobhita Dhulipala: My work should speak for me

Actor Sobhita Dhulipala is eagerly looking forward to her Telugu debut with Goodachari on August 3. The Miss India Earth 2013 beauty pageant winner, who featured in a slew of Hindi films including Raman Raghav 2.0 and Chef, among others, says life has come full circle as she is doing a film in her mother tongue, Telugu. 

“I was born in Tenali and was raised in Visakhapatnam until my class XII. Then, I moved to Mumbai to pursue graduation. I have participated in several beauty pageants before turning a model and an actor in Bollywood,” she says. 

About her role in Goodachari, the actor adds, “In the film, I play Sameera Rao, a psychologist from Harvard University. This role has both style and substance, and is also driven by emotions. Not just my role, every character in the film will have a contemporary relevance. These days, Telugu films are pushing boundaries and the content here has been drawing the attention of filmmakers from other languages. Although every industry has its own uniqueness, as a Telugu girl, it feels like completing a circle to make my debut here.”

The 26-year-old actor, who is making her strides across industries, refuses to be stereotyped. She believes acting is about testing one’s versatility in challenging roles. “I neither have a film background nor a godfather, but my parents have been supportive. I am always game for substantial roles and want to perform in all sorts of roles which challenge me as an actor, like a tailor’s daughter or a farmer’s wife. I’m not here to be famous and I sincerely wish the roles I play make a difference and speak for me.”

She says modelling and beauty pageants have been a stepping stone to the film industry. “These things work as a platform for you to get in here. But there is some humiliation too. When a model enters into the industry, they ask why is she here? For newcomers, who want to pursue a career in acting, they should get trained first and then give auditions for films. I feel it’s the right way to get exposure and experience,” adds Sobhita.