'I care a lot about friends'

Iti Acharya became a familiar name among Kannada movie buffs after being seen in projects like ‘Deal Raja’ and ‘Badmash’.

Recently she received rave reviews for her role in ‘Dhwani’.

The artiste, who believes that reality-based movies are the way forward, talks about her upcoming film with Tini Sara Anien.

What kind of roles are you looking for now?

I believe in real-life characters. Today’s movies are a slice of life. I want to work in projects which are inspired from real and existing characters. This is what made me want to be a part of ‘Kontract’.

Tell us more about ‘Kontract’.

The movie will be directed by Sameer and is being made under Sameer Productions.

The movie is inspired by the life of a businessman who is Sameer’s close friend. We are shooting simultaneously in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. The movie will have actors like Arjun
Sarja, J D Chakravarthy and Radhika Kumaraswamy.

Tell us a little about your role...

I am playing a software engineer in the film. I will be assisting the hero with his work and my role plays an important part in how the story turns around. I am extremely excited because I am playing a character of my age.

Do you relate to your character?

I play a lively, bubbly and friendly person who is outgoing. I care a lot about friends and I always want to know that things are fine with them. My character in the movie is also like this. It is a big contrast to ‘Dhwani’.

How was it to work with Radhika?

She is a phenomenal person. I was almost shivering on my first day on the sets. But she helped me a lot. She was very patient, polite and would share tips about how she manages things. It is only when I started working with her that I realised that she was a great actor and also a humble person.

You were a model earlier. Have you ever been stereotyped on that basis?

When one comes from a fashion background, people tend to see them as just a glamorous face. But they overlook the fact that the person might be able to act too. But things are changing now. After ‘Dhwani’ I have been getting a lot of appreciation. Before I became a model, I was a kathak dancer and also a theatre artiste. This let me build a foundation for my acting skills.

Have the audience preferences changed when it comes to movies?

A lot of work goes into every film. Kannada moviegoers are smarter now and are not easily impressed by just the glam quotient in films.

New-generation actors like Sruthi Hariharan and Shraddha Srinath have set a benchmark. Being an actor is not about being a pretty face and being dolled up anymore.

As an actor, what is your biggest strength?

I am a flexible person. I can easily be moulded according to the director’s wish. I am like an empty canvas which can be used to showcase any subject and theme.