“I play the role of a college-going Christian girl, who stays alone in a hostel. She gets into wrong company and starts drinking and partying,” says Ragini. “She meets this boy, whom she initially keeps ragging. But slowly, he changes her life.”
Besides this, Ragini is also working on an untitled Kannada movie. “It is an action thriller about a journey,” is all she says. But she promises that the “script is interesting and fascinating.”
Hailing from North India, Ragini says, she is used to travelling from one city to another as her father was in the army. But she has been in Bangalore for many years now.
“I finished my high school here, and am pursuing my degree from Bangalore University.” Starting off as a model for Prasad Bidapa, Ragini did many shows with the style-guru.
These led her to take part in the Miss India (South)
pageant, where she walked away with the crown. “It was an element of surprise,” she laughs. “But post that, I started taking my career more seriously.” Slowly, Veera Madakari, Holi and the Miss India 2009 happened, and the lady hasn’t looked back since then.
Going back to the pageant, how was the entire experience? “It was good to meet people, whom one doesn’t get to meet otherwise. It helped me build contacts and get work as well,” she feels.
But it’s life after the pageant that is really crucial, according to Ragini. “It is up to you to put effort and look for work.”
The most memorable part of being in Miss India for Ragini was meeting Sushmita Sen. “I had always dreamt of meeting her, and I bumped into her at the lobby of our hotel. I just couldn’t believe that I was standing next to Sush. But she was really sweet and hugged me,” she gushes.
“Before the event, she asked me many questions and even said that she sees a lot of herself in me, which really encouraged me.” Not being in the top five disappointed Ragini of course.
Though she is emotionally attached to Bangalore and the South Indian film industry, Ragini is planning to shift her base to Mumbai. “I started off from South so I can never detach myself from here. But to get good work, Mumbai is the ultimate destination.”
Never failing to spend time with her family, Ragini has her priorities set. “We keep going to nice restaurants in Bangalore that my mother keeps discovering,” she laughs. “I also like to catch up with friends whenever I have free time.”
Her ultimate wish is to be a glamourous and power-packed performer. “There are so many pretty girls out there. But in the end, what stands out is your performance,” she points.
Taking her own time to look for unique scripts, Ragini says, “I don’t want to be hasty in my work. I’d rather focus on one thing at a time.”
