Actress Chandini of films A (1998) and AK 47 (1999) is back in the Kannada industry. Just when Sandalwood had almost written her off, the actress has returned with the film Khaidi set to be released this week. She says, “I never went away so there is no question of making a comeback. You can call it a gap between films.”
The actress was keen to take up Khaidi after she listened to the song Thale Huve Pode Yinde, which is an old title and track from one of Vishnuvardhan’s films. “I had worked with Vishnuvardhan and so I was keen to know the story of Khaidi that director Gurudutt had created for today’s audiences. When he narrated the story to me, I felt the plot was realistic. Secondly, since both the producers Kala and Nayana were women who had taken on a lot of responsibilities and Dhanush, the hero, had the talent, I decided Khaidi was a good film to sign on,” she says.
The actress, who did her schooling in Ethiopia, graduated in Mysore. She gained national fame after working in a Bhojpuri film opposite Ravi Kishan and followed it up with a Gujarati and a Hindi project. On the education front she studied further and earned a doctorate in marketing. Not limiting herself to just another pretty face, Chandini made use of her PhD and worked in marketing and distribution at Sony Pictures. She later taught at Subhash Ghai’s film institute till she got this offer from the Kannada industry. “I feel like a complete film person as I have worked in the most important departments of the industry, which is marketing and distribution,” she says.
The actress is also equally excited to be part of a yet-to-be-titled bilingual film which will be made in Tamil and Hindi. “This film is directed by Vasant and I play a pivotal role along with Gulshan Grover,” she says.
Chandini now wants to focus on good films and would soon reveal her next project in Kannada. “My film journey has been very strange and I never know what will be my next step. So, it is better, I talk about my projects, when they come through,” she says.