BANGALORE: MEET this Agra belle who is set to mesmerise Kannada cine buffs with her acting skills. She is Vandana Gupta, the sister of Archana Gupta, who was crowned Miss Agra a few years ago.
One can fathom Vandana’s importance in Sandalwood by taking a look at what happened a while ago, when a Kannada film’s shooting was delayed for months together because of her busy schedule in ad films and other language films. Vandana’s maiden Kannada film Hrudayadalli Idenidhu is delayed for almost two years due to her busy schedule.
Vandana, who acted in the Tamil film Thavam, claims that many directors consider her the USP of their films. “I am not responsible for the delay in the completion of Hrudayadalli Idenidhu. Director Shivan waited for me because he considers me the USP of this film,” says Vandana.
Vandana began her career as a model for consumer products with Real Choice Drinking Water in 2006. With the success of that ad film, there was no looking back for her. She acted in many advertisements — Fair & Lovely, Spinz Deo, Cinthol, Kellogs, Ayur Shampoo, Mrs Marino Hair Softener, Tropicana Twister, Surf Excel and Joy Alukkas.
She describes Sandalwood as a cool place that provides a platform for artistes from other states to prove their mettle. “The atmosphere in Sandalwood is conducive for me. I enjoyed the shooting of Hrudayadalli Idenidhu. Attending shooting was like going to a tourist place. Artistes and technicians are gregarious. I will never forget that wonderful experience,” she said.
Many heroines in Sandalwood complain that producers give undue importance to heroines from other states. They allege that those heroines neither understand Kannada nor do justice to their assignments. However, Vandana begs to differ. “No producer or director will spend money on heroines from other states if they do not fit in to the respective characters. I am sorry if the local heroines have such a notion about artistes from other states. How can a producer spend lakhs of rupees on me if I am not suitable for the role?” she asks.
Will Vandana look forward to act in more Kannada films in the future? “Why not? I am ready to act in more Kannada films provided there are interesting scripts, good directors and producers,” she says.
Will she be selective while accepting offers from Kannada film producers and directors? “I do not want to accept whatever comes to me. I am not in a terrible hurry to act. It is quality that matters to me. I am not for numbers,” she signs off.
maheswarareddy@expressbuzz.com