Luck seems to be on Akshara Gowda’s side finally. The actor, who has worked primarily in the Tamil industry, has been waiting to make her Kannada debut for the last couple of years. And now, she will debut in Yogaraj Bhat’s Panchatantra. She was initially considered for Premadalli, the shooting of which stopped midway.

The Rangrezz heroine has completed the shoot for Panchatantra in which she shares screen space with Vihaan and Sonal Monteiro. “I couldn’t have asked for a better debut. I am glad to be working in a good project,” says Akshara, who is unwilling to share details on her role in the film at this point. “All I can say is I am sort of a tomboy in the film, who has grown up with five boys,” she reveals. 

In addition to playing the lead role, she has also assisted Bhatru in the film. Here’s where, she says, her course at New York Film Academy was handy. “Bhatru is open to suggestions. I was impressed by it, especially since he’s a senior director. He never orders people around but still commands respect. I am glad that my debut happened with his film,” she says, adding, “Bhatru often referred to me as ‘Gowdru’.”  

The actor, who is awaiting the take-off of her next Tamil film with Simbu, says it might only happen next year. Akshara is currently shuttling between Mumbai and Bengaluru, and speculations are rife that she is eyeing a Bollywood project. Even as news about her sharing screen space with Sushant Singh in an upcoming film are doing the rounds, Akshara prefers to stay mum. “It is better I talk about this Hindi project as and when it goes on floors. Until then, I’ll let it pass as a speculation,” she signs off.