Having featured in seven Sandalwood films, most notably Pancharangi,Krishnan Marriage Story and Anna Bond, Nidhi Subbaiah knew that her destiny was not to crawl about in a fenced comfort zone, but to soar through clouds of limitless ambition, even if it meant enduring the storms.

Having opted to make her debut in Bollywood with a cameo in the blockbuster Oh My God! and progressing to the grab the lead role in the tanked Ajab Gazab Love, Nidhi has battled odds. She now awaits two back-to-back B-town releases this month — Direct Ishq, releasing next Friday, and Love Shagun, which releases on February 26. Speaking to City Express about her journey in Bollywood, the actress who has made Mumbai her home since 2012 says she is four films old now with another film releasing in May. “I didn’t have a godfather in Sandalwood but still made a mark and it is the same belief that I carry in B-town too. Of course, it is tough, but talent does not go unrecognised. After seeing so many people who are still trying to make it to B-town, I feel lucky to have made it,” she says and adds, that she is gifting herself two films for her birthday on February 16.

According to her, it is her belief of utilising one’s potential to the maximum that has taken her so far. “Bollywood is big and if you have been accepted as a fish, why limit yourself to a pond when there is an ocean. Everyone wants to be part of Bollywood, and if they say otherwise, they are lying. I have seen a lot of Kannada actresses coming to Mumbai and trying their best to make it. I am glad to know the cremede la creme of Bollywood, who also recognise me,” Nidhi says.

Talking about her role in Direct Ishq and Love Shagun, she says, “I play a character named Dolly Pande in Direct Ishq, where I am paired opposite Rajniesh Duggall, who is born and brought up in Banaras. It was fun for me, a South Indian, playing this UP girl. I had to attend workshops before I got into the character and perfected the slang. I also play a rockstar, which is another shade of mine in the film.”In Love Shaguan, she plays a party going girl running a boutique in Goa, who knows the importance of moral principles. “Thankfully, I play the solo lead in both films, which demands a lot of effort towards acting. And, at times, the directors were surprised I could pull off a role on my own. I am open to challenges and don’t hesitate to experiment,” she says.

As of now, Nidhi is open for films in Sandalwood and and Bollywood. “Right now, I am doing a Kannada film, Nanna Ninna Prema Kathe, and it is a brilliant story. I like to be at a place, where directors feel that I can perform and fit into a role, irrespective of whether it is Hindi or Kannada,” she says.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Kannada / by A Sharadhaa / February 13th, 2016

Shanvi Srivastava returns to the big screen with the Sumanth Shailendra-starrer Bhale Jodi.

Adding to the glam quotient are actresses Hariprriya and Harshika Poonacha.

While Hariprriya plays the second female lead, as she has a couple of scenes as well as a song, Harshika appears in a guest role. Watch the chemistry unfold on screen shortly.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / TNN / February 09th, 2016

In Bollywood, Nidhi Subbaiah was last seen in the romcom outing Ajab Ghazab Love. From playing a cool chic, it was time for her to move into a rustic zone with Direct Ishq, a film which has been set in Banaras. In an author backed role where she plays the part of a wannabe rock-star from the holy city, Nidhi knew that she had to look and act the part.

However, she wasn’t prepared for the hardships that were on the way to glory.

“You make it sound really scary, though trust me, I enjoyed every bit of it,” say Nidhi, who is said to have delivered her most ‘bindaas’ performance ever in the romantic musical entertainer, “Yes, Direct Ishq is by all means the toughest role of my life. The weather conditions were really tough.”

Considering the fact that she also had to be seen in rockstar attire for a major part of the film, leather pants and boots were everyday outfits.

Laughs Nidhi, “Yeah, and I got a dose of that pretty early in the day once I was called to shoot for my introduction song – Ganga Maiyya. Swati (Sharrma) has sung it really well and I had to make sure that I get that energy on screen as well. I had to be the kind of rockstar that Dolly Pandey (name of my character) is supposed to be in the film.”

The first step in this direction was to prepare for the role, which means developing the kind of body language that goes with a rockstar.

“I went to YouTube and checked out many videos of live performances. I kept referring to notes for almost 25 days of the shooting. I designed a particular look for myself too. However, if this required good work, there were excruciating weather conditions to deal with as well. With the temperature touching 53 degrees, you can well imagine how it must have felt to shoot outdoors,” sighs Nidhi.

It was all in good time though for Nidhi.

“Not just ‘Ganga Maiyya’, I had to stress myself for Mera Kissa as well. I must have given my body so much pain while shooting these rock tracks that my neck was sprained in a matter few days. However, when I look back at the results, it was all worth it,” she says.

One looks forward to the results on screen once Direct Ishq, with Rajniesh Duggall and Arjun Bijlani as the leading men, releases all over this Friday.

source: http://www.movietalkies.com / MovieTalkies.com / Home> Bollywood News / by Shalini Burman, MovieTalkies.com / February 15th, 2016

Mareyalaare is Coorg lass Pavitra Belliappa’s second Kannada film, a project she is quite excited about considering that movies were not in her scheme of things till not long ago. “I am an only child from a family that expected me to become an entrepreneur, as I had graduated in business studies. Many of my college friends were involved with the arts and showbiz, which interested me. They suggested that I should get a portfolio shoot done, which I did, after which I got the offer for my first Kannada film, KA,” says Pavitra.

While she was excited about bagging her debut, the actress tells us that the news remained a secret for her parents for a while. “I did not tell them that I had auditioned for a role or that I got it. It was only after the team did a promotional photoshoot that I broke the news. My mother was OK with my decision, but my dad was dead against it, as he had some preconceived notions about the film industry. He said that I should start a business or get married. I persisted, though, and he relented,” says Pavitra.

KA did not have a great run at the box office, but was good learning ground, says the actress, who subsequently auditioned for Mareyalaare. “I had heard about the issues director Sharat Khadri had in making this film with the earlier cast and even saw the movie Sandalwood Sa Re Ga Ma Pa that he made about his troubles. It was clear to me that he is very passionate about filmmaking. So, when his team announced that they were relaunching the film, I decided to audition, and as luck would have it, I was selected,” she says.

Mareyalaare, she adds, is a love story at its core, but there is more to it than meets the eye. “In fact, my character has three distinct shades. I start as this bubbly collegian, then become this socially-aware mature person, and in the climax, my character has a totally different look as well,” she says.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Kannada> Movies /by Pratibha Joy / TNN / February 03rd, 2016