Working on Victory's sequel felt like being back with my own family: Asmita Sood

Kannada viewers still remember Asmita Sood in the 2013 film Victory, in which she was paired opposite Sharan. Now, ahead of the release of its sequel, which has been certified U/A, Asmita tells Cinema Express that she never expected a follow-up to Victory. “It was the team’s call whether a sequel would work, and they found a subject that would connect the two parts,” she says.

Even though Asmita made a cameo appearance in Sharan’s other film, Adhyaksha, it has taken her five years to take up another film in Kannada. She’s quick to respond that her commitment to a television series kept her busy in Mumbai for a long time. “Even now, I look back and feel that having a strong foothold in Mumbai was a good idea. I continue to shoot for an established production house - Balaji Telefilms. Small screen has been keeping me busy, and didn’t give me much time to do films in any language,” says Asmita, adding, “But when I was called for the sequel, I couldn’t resist it. We scored well in the first part, and considering the close-knit team, I decided to take time out for this film.” 

Asmita, who is juggling between different mediums, says that films are a different ball game altogether. “I’ve got varied experience now having worked in television and participated in reality shows. Television really hones your skills as an actor and makes you think on your feet. But having been away from the film industry for the last four-five years, I feel that films are far more interesting, which is also why I’m back,” she says. 

In Victory’s sequel, she will be playing Sharan’s wife. “The character is still the same and there are sequences which lead to a lot of twists and turns. The starting point and the trigger is the wife’s character. That was how it was in the first part and this will continue in the sequel. In fact, it will be much more fun than part 1 - there will be lot of craziness and more entertainment,” she says.

Since Asmita has had the opportunity to be part of both parts, what is her opinion on sequels? “Sequels cannot be judged. Sometimes it turns out to be much better, and there are examples of this in Bollywood and other south Indian language films. There are times when the second part of the film does much better than the first,” she says.  

When she took up Victory five years ago, Asmita was still a newcomer. Does she feel the same excitement now? “Of course, because it is the same team, except that there was a change in the director. The first part was directed by Nanda Kishore and this time it is Hari Santhosh. We have a new producer in Tarun Shivappa as well. But I knew the entire team, including creative head Tharun Sudhir, and actors Sadhu Kokila, Ravi Shankar, and Avinash, who plays my father in the film. Sharan adds so much energy and brings in so much positivity to the sets, and he is so funny. I was just so happy to be working with him again,” says Asmita, adding, “In fact, the first time I did Victory, I was apprehensive because I was entering a new industry, and there were so many things going through my mind. Now I feel like I’m back with my own family. It was not like I was coming to an unknown domain.”