Ashika Ranganath follows her sister Anusha's shadow and steps into tinsel town. A super-excited newbie says this is a week for celebration for her because her first Kannada film Crazy Boy is to be released this Friday.
"I am glad to work with an established director like Mahesh Babu, who has done hit films like Akash and Arasu. I hope the movie will be a good launchpad for me," she says.
Ashika has no background in films, so being a good dancer was her only advantage, she says. "A dancer can easily emote, so I had no stage fear. I had also participated in a dance reality show. Though camera was new to me, the director made sure that I was comfortable. Whatever acting you will see on screen was all learnt during the making of Crazy Boy," she says.
About the movie, Ashika says, it is a comedy entertainer and a college love story.
"Mahesh Babu has given various shades to my character," says the newbie, whose main attraction for being part of Crazy Boy was the director. "It is very rare that a newcomer gets to work with an established director. His simplicity is what helped us to do better," she adds.
How confident was Ashika with Crazy Boy? "Like every newcomer, I have butterflies in my stomach as the film gets closer to the release date. This is the first time I will test audience's reaction. Today with new artistes out every day, only the best will stay and I hope to be one," she says.
How difficult is it for newcomers to survive Kannada industry? Ashika replies, "My sister has done serials and then a film. I have seen the beginning of her career and her struggles. Whatever the hard work I put in, there is also luck, which I hope to have... Fingers crossed," she says.
Ashika has not taken on her next project and would do so only after the release of this movie. "Right now, only Crazy Boy in n my mind," she signs off.