Her life was far removed from showbiz. But for actor Aditi Chengappa, destiny proved mightier. Her father Raj Chengappa is a renowned journalist with the India Today group. Aditi herself is a trained yoga expert and singer. With Ra, she has now debuted as a heroine in the Tamil industry. With another two Telugu films in her kitty, looks like Aditi is all set to go with the flow of fate.
How did she land up in showbiz, we ask the Bangalore-born actor from Coorg. “I’m actually a trained singer. I’ve learnt western and Hindustani classical music, and I play the guitar. I wanted to make my own jazz album. I never ever dreamt I would end up acting instead. But it all happened due to my meeting with actor Bhumika, wife of my yoga guru Bharat Thakur,” she says. Aditi had attended Bharat and Bhumika’s wedding. “At the wedding, I had danced to a song, which impressed Bhumika. She was making Thakita Thakita then, and she offered me a role. I accepted it, and became an actor overnight!” she says with a grin. Aditi, who had been pursuing her BA in English Literature at the Lady Sriram College in New Delhi, decided to go with the flow. “I don’t fight fate. I decided to check out the new career and see where it would lead me,” she says. Soon she was offered a role in Kollywood movie Konjam Koffee Konjam Kadhal, and she accepted it. “It was at that audio launch that the makers of Ra spotted me. Konjam Koffee Konjam Kadhal hasn’t released yet, so Ra will be my debut in Tamil,” she says.
She plays the role of Renya, love interest of the hero Ashraf. Aditi, who doesn’t seem to like horror films, says she had to face her fears with Ra. “Luckily, I had to time to be afraid on the sets since there was so much to do. After work, I would watch cartoons on TV to shake off the eerie memories of the shoot,” she says.
Aditi also has another movie, Moone Moonu Varthai, in her kitty. The actor is also looking forward to the Telugu magnum opus Rudramma Devi, which is under production. “I play Anushka Shetty’s sister. In real life also she’s like an elder sister to me. I know her from the days we both learnt yoga from Bharat Thakur.” With so much going for her in filmdom, Aditi seems to have her fate sealed!
