It’s a moment Nikki wants to soak in. Barely six months in the industry, the young actress has just bagged her fourth film, her second in Kannada. This time she has signed up to work opposite Prajwal Devaraj. The film is a remake of the Telugu hit Swamy Ra Ra. Nikki says, “Swamy Ra Ra had Nikhil Siddharth and Swati Reddy in the lead roles. I am taking on the character played Swati in the Kannada version.”
With a film in each of the four southern filmdoms, Nikki will debut in Malayalam with 1983, in Tamil with Yagavarayinum Na Kaakka, in Tollywood with Yagavarayinum Na Kaakka’s Telugu version called Production No 1 and in Kannada with Ajith, a remake of Paiya.
“Where usually freshers find it difficult to get even one film, I feel blessed to have got so many. Surprisingly, directors are signing me on just by going through my work as a model,” says Nikki. She has finished shooting for Ajith and 1983. “I am done with half of my shooting schedules for Yagavarayinum Na Kaakka. It is being directed by Satya Prabhas Pinishetty and stars Adhi in the lead and Mithun Chakraborty. I will start working on my film with Prajwal from August 12 onwards. I also have two songs to complete for Ajith,” says Nikki, who has chosen not to flaunt her relation with elder sister Sanjjanaa.
“I have learnt a lot by watching my sister on the sets. She has taught me to be professional, punctual and never to throw starry tantrums. On the sets, I am focussed but I also have a lot of fun. In fact, Ajith, was more of an outing. Mahesh Babu (the director) made the work environment very welcoming for me. I felt at home even though I was working in films whose language I am unfamiliar with,” says Nikki.
Another lesson Nikki has picked up is to keep professional and personal lives separate. “I love to hang out with my school friends who I have known for years. On the other hand I maintain working relationships with my colleagues,” she says.
Of course, like any debutante Nikki has her dreams. She says, “I would love to play the character Anushka Shetty did in Arundhati or Sridevi’s role in Khuda Gawah. What I enjoy and want are stories that revolve around a female protagonist.” Nikki.