Star In the Making
With her enormous eyes and long tresses Ahaana Krishna is a hark-back to the glorious B&W era. The lead lady of Rajeev Ravi’s untitled film, she simply sparkles in front of the camera and seems well on her way to becoming a star. “Films were not a part of my immediate plans. I haven’t quite come to terms with this yet,” says the Visual Communication student.
Being the daughter of actor Krishnakumar, Ahaana was introduced to the world or glitz at a very young age. The pretty girl says 70mm was more of a childhood fantasy, something she put on the back burner while growing up. “As a kid I wanted to be an actress, I thought it was all about pretty costumes and far-flung locations. But with time the plan was completely wiped off my wishlist and I got busy with my studies.” She adds a career in showbiz was the last thing on her mind when the film was offered. “I was not very keen on taking it, later, with a lot of hesitancy, I decided to give it a chance,” she explains.
When Ahaana says seeking stardom was not in her plans, she means it. The teenager had turned down a couple of enviable roles including ‘Annayum Rasoolum’ and another one opposite Dulquar Salman. “I had just finished my class 10 exams when ‘Annayum Rasoolum’ was offered. At home we didn’t even discuss the pros and cons before declining the offer, because we all knew I was too young to pull it off.”
Ask Ahaana she ever regretted skipping Mollywood’s most noted film in recent times, and she says, “I always knew it would be a path-breaking film. Fahad Fazil was the most sought-after star then, giving hits after hits. So I also had no doubts about its commercial possibilities. I was hardly 15 then and felt I won’t fit into the role. I really don’t regret giving Anna a miss because I think it was the right decision. And yes, after watching the film I was overjoyed to think that I was considered for the role.”
Ahaana plays Anjali, a cute college-goer in the film and the actress says she was totally cool-and-composed on day one of the shoot. “I was hardly nervous because I was not trying to impress the crew. All I wanted then was to wrap up the whole thing and go back to my hostel in Chennai. But as days went by I started feeling butterflies in my stomach.” In the film, which also is the launchpad of Fahad Fazil’s younger brother Farhaan, she plays the hero’s childhood sweetheart.
“The film is not a campus romance. It’s basically revolves around the character of Farhaan and our relationship just forms a part of it.” Ahaana also adds that she was comfortable in the shoes of a breezy college girl, “there was not much difference between my reel and real lives,” she smiles.
Back at her college in Chennai Ahaana’s friends keep pinging her for updates. “They want to know whether the film will be released in Chennai. Other than the occasional questions from friends and acquaintances I don’t feel any difference. I think the actress feel has not quite sunk in,” she says. She is keeping her fingers crossed for her debut to hit the screens in July-August and says she would sign another film only if she is that confident about it. “I have been approached for a couple of films, but I haven’t committed any. I want to wait till the release, but if something really nice comes my way I will consider it,” she signs off.