Niveditha wanted to be jack of all trades. “Everything attracted me but nothing was holding my attention for a long time. I really never decided on anything particular in my life. Till some time ago, I used to have fun without any focus,” she confesses. Today, Niveditha is an actress and she is quite enjoying her career. “I did have fun during my school/college days, though,” she says. “My best days was while I was in Class VII. The school was in Chikballapur, a place surrounded by hills, and the school spread over acres. That was a very memorable year. Till my Class VII I used to come first. I got distracted in Class VIII and my scores dipped. Since then, I have been an average student.”
Having completed her PUC from Marimallapa’s Pre University College, Mysore, Niveditha graduated as an engineering student from CMRIT College, Bangalore. “It so happened that my father’s elder brother was the principal of the college. My classmates used to think twice before befriending me. It took a long time for them to get close to me. But later, we bonded well and I have few friends with whom I am still in touch,” shares Niveditha.
She also recollects her exploits as a tomboy. “I was often questioned by my principal at PU college for my western costumes and hanging out more with the boys. I still remember, one day, I was the only girl talking to at least a dozen boys, who had surrounded me. My principal saw me in the midst of them and seized my identity card. He wanted my father to meet him. I was taken aback by the principal’s behaviour. I reported the incident to my father. Unlike most dads, he was really cool. In fact, he accompanied me to the college and told the principal that he did not find anything wrong with my behaviour as it was a coeducation college. However, my father did give him an apology letter on my behalf,” she recounts.
As a child, Niveditha dreamt of being a pilot or a journalist. “But in my family, everybody is an engineer and that was a must. On the other hand, my mother wanted me to become a lawyer. Finally my CET score landed me in an engineering college.”
Niveditha never forgets the trip she took with her friends during college. “We were visiting Srirangapatna and Mysore when we stopped by the Balmuri falls. There I was quite excited to see actors, Vishnuvardhan and Ramesh Aravind, who were shooting for Apthamitra. Most of my friends who had accompanied me were from north India. I was the only one who wanted to take pictures with them. Each time I requested, Ramesh Aravind kept saying, ‘Wait, let the shot get over’. Back then, I never knew what the term ‘shot’ meant. Ironically, today, I live in and out of shots everyday!”
Niveditha was also an NCC cadet as a student. “My NCC days have helped me adapt to various situations. I was by myself in Mumbai for nearly four months when I learnt to live alone and look after my needs. NCC helped to become confident,” she says.
She quit her software job after she got an opportunity in tinsel town. My software job was quite short-lived as I did not quite enjoy the 9 to 5 life. When I got an offer to act in a movie, I took a crash course at Anupam Kher’s acting school — Actor Prepares. Even the training session was quite memorable. I was not the kind who got involved in theatrical activities during my college days, though I participated in sports. But this institute guided me to perform better on screen. I learnt to get over stage fear. Anupam Kher met me personally and told me that I have talent and that I only need little grooming. That inspired me and my decision to quit my IT job made sense.”
This industry opens up to lot of avenues, she says. “You get a voice where you can tell something,” she signs off.
— sharadha.srinidhi@gmail.com