Ganavi Laxman: Heroine is the biggest strength of Hero

Ganavi Laxman, who caught the attention of the Kannada audience in director TN Seetharam’s teleserial, Magalu Janaki, is all set to make her silver screen debut. She will soon be seen in M Bharath Raj’s Hero, opposite Rishab Shetty. The film is set for release on March 5.

Ganavi was always clear about her interest in films. However, the journey has been far from easy. “I have seen a lot of downs before coming here. With Hero, I hope to go to the next level,” says the actor, who previously worked in a film titled Bhava Chitra, which is yet to see its release.

Having grown up in a hostel, where access to television was limited, she was involved in every art form like dance, music and painting. She tells us it was her teacher, Vivek Vijay Kumar from Our Theatre, who encouraged her further. However, a series of rejections in auditions almost forced her to give up. “That’s when my entry to the small screen happened with Magalu Janaki. That was my last try, and when I was offered the character, I felt like it was tailor-made for me. I took it up as a challenge” says Ganavi, who has been particular about picking projects that allow her to perform.

Rishab Shetty, she says, has given her that scope to perform in Hero. Ganavi, who is paired opposite the actor-filmmaker in the film, recalls how she failed to bag a role in Kirik Party, which was directed by Rishab. “I was told that I looked too mature for the role. And instead, I was offered a friend’s role. I didn’t take that rejection well, because I was proud of my talent. But at the same time, the rejections kept me grounded, and helped me learn acceptance,” she says, adding “At that time, I looked at myself in the mirror and vowed that one day I would be accepted as a heroine. Today, I am glad that's come true with Rishab Shetty's Hero.”

Not being a trained artiste meant a lot of homework for Ganavi, who came to realise that there’s much difference between dancing and acting. “I cherish my experience with Hero, which was shot during the lockdown. This will stay in my memory for a long time. I was signed for his other film, Nathuram, which didn’t go on floors, and he ended up offering me this project. When I entered the sets of Hero, I felt like I was in a different world. I told myself that this was my chance to prove my mettle,” she says.

Ask Ganavi about the importance of a heroine in a film titled Hero, and she says, “Behind the sparks of a hero, lies the strength of the heroine.” About her character, the actor goes on to add, “Hero brings out different facets of a woman, from the time she makes the transition from a girl to a woman, the love she experiences, marriage and other emotions.”