'I work to better myself everyday'

Rising star

Actor Samyukta Hornad doesn’t have a long list of films to her credit but she is remembered for the handful of projects that she has worked on so far. The young lady sounds very sure about what she wants to do with her career and is very particular about the kind of work she wants to be known for.

Granddaughter of popular Kannada theatre personalities ‘Make-up’ Nani and Bhargavi Narayan, daughter of television actor Sudha and niece of actor Prakash Belawadi, Samyukta says she is aware that she has a lineage to live up to.

She has come a long way from her debut in the Kannada film industry with ‘Lifeu Ishtene’. The actor recently played the role of a village belle ‘Jigarthanda’ and will soon be seen essaying the character of Lakshmi in ‘Maarikondavaru’. Then she will switch over to the role of a corporate girl in ‘Dayavittu Gamanisi’. She has also signed another movie ‘Kannadakaagi Ondanu Othi’.

In an interview with Nina C George, she talks about how being choosy with projects has worked well for her and why she isn’t in a hurry.  

What’s your character like in ‘Jigarthanda’?  
Although I play the role of a girl who was born and raised in a village, her thought process is very modern and quite forward. In fact, in the movie, I teach a guy how to smoke. I agreed to work in ‘Jigarthanda’ because I found the subject very unique and all the characters in the film have a definite part to play and have been chosen for a reason.    

Who has inspired you?
Coming from a family of actors, I’ve grown up learning and understanding the nuances of acting. There isn’t really any one person in my family who has influenced and shaped my thought process. I’ve picked up the best from everybody. But actor B Jayashree has inspired me to no end. In fact, whenever I am confused about something, I always turn to her for advice and guidance.

Has your pace of work bothered you?
I’ve worked at my own pace and have never been worried about what society may have to say or think about my choice of projects. Almost all the roles that I’ve played so far have been different in terms of content. I also don’t believe in comparing myself to anybody else. I work to better myself everyday.

What makes you feel positive?  
I feel positive when I am around animals, especially when I am spending time with my dog, Gundu. Animals teach you what unconditional love is all about and they respect you for what you are, without being judgemental. I am never in a state of confusion at any point, so there’s really no need for me to feel negative.  

What do you do when you are not working?
There are plenty of things that I do when I am not working. I doodle, travel, read and paint. Being a student of literature, there are a host of subjects that hold my interest and I stay in touch with reading, however busy I may be.

Any co-star whose work you admire?
I’ve always shared a good rapport with all my co-stars. A lot of people think actor Prakash Raj is a very reserved person but when I worked in ‘Oggarane’, I found that my
perspective towards a lot of things changed after working with him.