Commercial side of Nishvika Naidu

Vaasu Naan Pakka Commercial is not complete without its heroine, says Nishvika Naidu. She plays the female lead in Ajith Vasan Uggina’s directorial starring Anish Tejeshwar, which will be released this week. 

“The title may put the spotlight on the hero, but it is actually a dialogue my character keeps saying in the film. In fact, when I heard the title, I didn’t quite get why the director picked it. But, during the auditions, I was told that this was my dialogue in the film. I felt good that a line delivered by me was becoming the title. I was thrilled to play this character,” she says.

While it was initially meant to be Nishvika’s debut, Vaasu Naan Pakka Commercial eventually became her second outing, as KM Chaitanya’s Amma I Love You came out first. However, the actor says the former will always remain special because that is where her journey as a heroine began.

“I was excited and nervous when I first got this offer. It came to me when I was still deciding if cinema was what I wanted to do as a career. I was unprepared for the auditions and felt nervous on the first day of the shoot, though I was determined to do my best. It took a little while for me to settle down, but eventually everyone in the team became friends,” she tells us.

How important is it for a female actor to be part of a commercial film? “It is important for every artiste. As for me, Vaasu... gave me an opportunity to explore all kinds of skills. There are so many shades to this character, and the director has not simply cast me as a pretty face or as a prop. I have a strong character to portray, which is a good beginning in one’s career.”

Nishvika says that while her initial interactions with Anish, who plays the male lead in the film, were formal, they later grew to be friendly, pulling each other’s leg and fighting. “He kept annoying me most of the time. But that apart, I think he is a very responsible actor and a producer,” she says. “He involves himself in various facets of filmmaking and is particular about details. It was nice to be around such an artiste because it helped me learn more about the skills needed behind the camera. It gave me a better understanding of cinema,” she adds.

“Though my characterisation is commercial in this film, I am essentially a non-commercial heroine,” the actor concludes.