Hebah Patel: Kumari 21F brought me fame but Odela brought me credibility

Hebah Patel is all set to return as Radha in the supernatural thriller Odela 2, which is gearing up for a theatrical release on April 17. Directed by Ashok Teja under Sampath Nandi’s writing and directorial supervision and backed by producer D Madhu, the sequel to Odela Railway Station takes a new path into a spiritual direction. Hebah Patel, who got immense acclaim in the first part, shared her thoughts on the film, her journey, and what Odela means to her.

When Odela Railway Station first began during the chaos of the pandemic, there were no plans for a sequel. “Odela Railway Station was a film made during the lockdown. All the shootings were stopped due to Corona. At a time when it was not known when things would start again, Sampath Nandi gaaru and the team bravely came forward and made Odela,” she recalled. “At that time, I did not think there would be a sequel. But the film received a greater success than we expected. All the audiences who saw it praised it. Even then, I didn’t imagine the sequel would be made on this level.”

The result is Odela 2, which moves beyond the murder mystery formula of its predecessor into full-blown supernatural terrain. “Odela 1 is an out-and-out murder mystery. Odela 2 is a supernatural thriller. It is much bigger and has many amazing elements. The audience will have a great theatrical experience,” she said.

Though Tamannaah Bhatia headlines the film in what’s being promoted as a “never-before” role, Hebah’s own presence seems far from ornamental. “I have combination scenes with Tamannaah in this. She plays my sister in the film. But I will mostly be seen in the jail episodes. My character will create as much impact in the second part as it did in the first part,” she stated.

Hebah credits Odela for shaping her growth as an actor. She asserted, “Kumari 21F brought me fame. But Odela gave me credibility. It gave me the confidence that I could do all kinds of roles. As an actress, I learnt a lot from this film.” But surprisingly for her, the decision to do the first part came with great hesitation. “When Sampath gaaru told me about my character in the first Odela, I felt shocked. I thought, 'Can I really do such a performance-based role?' But he told me to try. His faith gave me more confidence. He’s a very kind person. Working with him was a great pleasure.”

She speaks of Tamannaah not as a co-star but as someone whose method left a lasting impression. “Tamanna takes every character very seriously. I really liked the way she prepares. She researched very well for Odela 2,” Hebah noted, “In fact, I didn’t prepare much for my character while doing Odela. I never did homework like Tamanna did. I’ve learnt to do such homework in the future.”

Hebah's comfort with the team is evident in her words about director Ashok Teja and producer Madhu. “Ashok Teja gaaru is very clear. Sampath Nandi gaaru and he applied team effort,” she added, “Madhu gaaru took the project to the next level. He made the film on a very grand scale without compromising anywhere. I wish this film to be a huge success and bring him fame.”

She further revealed that the mysticism in Odela 2 is not just a marketing gimmick, it was felt even on set. “The muhurat of this film was done in Kashi. We launched the teaser at Maha Kumbh Mela. This story is related to spirituality and devotion. We started with the belief that divine power will also support us. Believe it or not, we felt that divine presence while we shot the film,” she said.

Vasishta N Simha returns as well, and Hebah seems grateful to share the screen with him again. “I acted with him for the first time in Odela 1. He’s a wonderful actor. When we act with him, we get inspiration to act wonderfully, he’s that good,” she declared.

Having completed a decade in the industry, Hebah Patel doesn’t speak in grand statements about the future. “This journey has been a joy. There have been ups and downs. But as an actress, I am always happy. Success or failure is not final. It is in our hands to keep working. I have learnt a lot in this journey. I am confident that I will continue to travel as an actress for another 10 years,” she said. 

As for what’s next, she hints at more comedic territory. “I have tried many genres of films so far. I want to do a full-fledged comedy entertainer. Hope an offer like that comes along,” she said in a wishful tone, “Two films in Telugu are getting ready for release. I am doing a Kannada film. It will start next month.”