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

I have always been a fan of Sunil Kumar Desai and have grown up watching his movies. He was ahead of his time and made experimental movies, which are hot now, back in the 80s and 90s.

So when he personally called me to ask if I would be interested in working in his comeback film, I said yes immediately, without even hearing the narration or asking who my co-stars were,” says Harshika Poonacha, when asked about her upcoming film, Re.

The actress, who plays Paro — an outspoken, bubbly and inquisitive reporter in the movie — says that she prepared herself mentally to feel as if this was her debut film, as she wanted to bring to life her director’s vision.

“Re is a very special movie and one that is close to my heart.

Although I have been in the industry for close to 10 years and have worked in many films, this is my first project with such a senior director.

I like directors who are particular about what they want, and Desai sir is very strict in that sense. He ensures that he gets from his actors what he has in his mind. In the process, he taught me a lot, like about small pauses and dialogue delivery. So, although I had a lot of fun while filming for the movie, I found it challenging to portray exactly what he wanted from me. But at the end of the day, when it was time to pack up, I left the set feeling satisfied at having done a good job. I am a director’s actor and want to be their mirror.”

The young actress shares screen space with senior actors Anant Nag and Ramesh Aravind in the movie, and Harshika says that she has always wanted to work with Anant, but it had somehow never worked out before.

“Apart from starring in Desai sir’s film, being cast with Ramesh sir and Anant sir was the icing on the cake. Since I was 15, I wanted to work with Anant sir, but that hadn’t happened till now.

Everything seems to have fallen in place with this one movie. I spent a lot of time with both of them and it was an amazing experience.

They are both so good at what they do that I got a lot of inputs from them, which I am sure I wouldn’t be able to get from anywhere else. Both of them are so energetic that they can put young actors to shame. Ramesh sir still looks like he is 25 or 26 years old, and is very young at heart.

And Anant sir is the eternal charmer. He is so good looking that he doesn’t need any makeup. He glows and has a presence about him. I would love to be cast opposite him,” she adds.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movie / by Dhwani Desai – Dhwani.Desai@timesgroup.com / TNN / February 02nd, 2016