Nishvika Naidu: Not every film you sign will be a blockbuster

Nishvika Naidu, who made her debut with Amma I Love You, has become one of the favourite heroines of Kannada filmmakers. The four-films-old actor's work has impressed the people she has worked with so much that they retained her for their future projects.

Nishvika, who was paired opposite Anish Tejeshwar in Vasu Naan Pakka Commercial, is teaming up with the actor again for Ramarjuna. Having collaborated with producer Ramesh Reddy and director Guru Deshpande on Padde Huli, she has been roped in for the producer’s upcoming venture, Gaalipata 2, and is awaiting the release of director-turned-producer Guru Deshpande’s Gentleman on February 7. “Getting a callback from filmmakers whom I have already worked with means that my work has been appreciated and that is what matters the most. I feel grateful for this opportunity,” says Nishvika.

Gentleman, directed by Jadesh Kumar, will see her paired opposite Prajwal Devaraj, who plays a character that suffers from sleeping beauty syndrome. According to Nishvika, the film which talks about the hero’s sleeping disorder also revolves around the illegal sale of women’s eggs — a subject which she thinks is rarely explored in cinema, and one of the reasons she took up the film. “Initially, when the script was narrated to me, I was told about the sleeping beauty disorder by the director, and I thought it would turn out to be a comic caper. But later, when I heard the rest of the story, I got to know that it is not about the hero’s weakness but revolves around a mafia. Secondly, I hadn’t realised about the existence of the ova scam. I even asked the director whether he had made it up and he clarified that he has done his research. I also went back and read a few shocking incidents, where women’s eggs were sold for lakhs and young girls are involved in this business. I felt it is an untold story, and I am proud to be part of the film,” she says.

Going by the choice of her roles, does Nishvika prioritise her character over substance? “I think it can be either way. For example, take a movie that doesn’t have a lot for you, but in general, it has a lot to say. As an outcome, when it is doing well, the audience will also know that you are a part of it. Sometimes, if the story is not so great, but you have a strong character, you still take up the movie. So, it's not that I always have to do strong roles. Sometimes, a story that needs to be told must be given preference,” she says.

Nishvika is still to figure out whether she is on the right track. “Initially, I thought I was doing well, but I was confused as to what kind of movies I wanted to do, and what scripts need to be picked up. Should I wait or take up what comes my way? Having said that, not every film you sign will be a blockbuster. You have to take it up with the belief that it is going to work. At present, I am content, and glad with the way my career is shaping up,” she concludes.