When she lived and studied in Chennai as a five-year-old, little did she dream that she would one day return to the city, this time as a Kollywood actor! But thanks to the quirks of fate, that’s exactly what happened to Deeksha Seth, who is making her Kollywood debut, opposite none other than Chiyaan Vikram, in the Susindran directed, ‘Raja Pattai’.
She is also starring in Simbu’s ‘Vettai Mannan’.
Deeksha is not a new to films. She made an impressive debut in Krish’s ‘Vedam’ (2010), a Telugu film starring Allu Arjun. She’s also a former Femina Miss India finalist who has several Telugu movies in her kitty. Though none of it was planned, Deeksha seems to be taking her new career very seriously.
“I never dreamt that I’d be an actor!” she says. “My father works with ITC and we travelled all over India due to his transfers. I lived in Chennai for 4 years and studied in Sishya. So, coming to Kollywood, is like coming home!”
Though she was born in Delhi, Deeksha graduated from Mumbai, where she began her modeling career. “I was a first year student in college (2009) when a Miss India contest scout spotted me during an NSS event. He persuaded me to enter the contest that year. My friends encouraged me and I got a portfolio done by my dad’s friend,” she explains.
Though she knew nothing about modelling, Desksha got a selection call and was selected as the top 10 finalists, where she won the ‘Fresh Face’ title. It was during a modelling assignment in Hyderabad that the ‘Vedam’ casting director spotted her.
“Life changed after meeting director Krish over coffee! I loved the script and decided to give it a shot. They were looking for a girl just like me and had rejected 70 others before! Though I never planned anything, my career just found me!” she smiles.
Deeksha can’t stop gushing about her ‘Raja Pattai’ unit. “Susindran is so clear about what he wants and is yet open to suggestions. And Vikram is amazing. I’ve learnt to be spontaneous and simple from him. Despite being such a big star, he has no airs about himself and patiently practices the scenes with me, helping me with language and expressions,” she says.
Deeksha plays an IT girl working in Chennai. “Susindran breathes life into his characters and I can totally relate to my role,” she adds. After ‘Vedam’, and the 2011-releases — ‘Mirapaakey’ and ‘Wanted’, Deeksha has the Prabhas- starrer ‘Rebel’ and the Ravi Teja-starrer ‘Nippu’ up for release. ‘Oo Kodathera Ulikki Padatara’ with Manoj Manchu is under production.
With such an impressive lineup opposite big stars in both Telugu and Tamil, which industry is her priority? “Life itself is a balancing act,” she says. “I have wonderful memories of Chennai and I love the Tamil industry. I certainly want to be a part of it for a long time.”