In a candid chat with The Pioneer, Aditi Shankar opens up about her Telugu debut in Bhairavam, working with director Vijay Kanakamedala and Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, overcoming the language barrier, and how being the daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Shankar brings both respect and responsibility. She also shares fun behind-the-scenes moments, her connection with Telugu cinema, and her aspirations to explore diverse genres including historicals and action films
Suresh Kavirayani
sureshkavirayani@gmail.com
Aditi Shankar, daughter of one of India’s top directors, Shankar, is all set to make her debut in Telugu with Bhairavam. The film is releasing on May 30 and Aditi talks about her Telugu debut, future plans and her father.
Aditi Shankar in her debut stars opposite Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas. The film is directed by Vijay Kanakamedala. “Director Vijay had seen my debut Tamil film Viruman, which was a rural subject. So, I got a call from him, and he narrated the storyline. This film also has a rural backdrop, so he thought I would fit into this role,” said Aditi, speaking about how she entered this project.
Aditi initially thought there would be many challenges, especially due to the language barrier. “Actually, I thought I would face a lot of barriers, but it was a smooth sail for me. The team prepared me well with the language and I also did my homework, so it wasn’t difficult for me,” she said.
Talking about her character, she shared that it’s bold and honest but still bubbly. “It’s a little similar to my real self. I wear mostly half-sarees, and the shoot also happened in Rajahmundry. It’s a rural drama, and I’m happy to be a part of this film,” said Aditi. The actress said she had visited Hyderabad and Ramoji Film City with her father during his film shoots. “Now, I came to shoot my film in the same place, which I feel is a true moment for me. I always wanted to do a Telugu film and I am happy that I got the right one for my debut,” said Aditi.
She also mentioned that she hadn’t received any projects earlier. “When I wanted to do a Telugu film, this one came to me. It’s really a nice opportunity for me,” she said. Her Tamil debut was also a rural subject and now Bhairavam shares a similar backdrop. “It’s not that I do only rural roles. When they approach me with a good story and script, if I like it, I am ready to do it. It all depends on the story and the script,” she said.
Bhairavam is actually a remake of the Tamil film Garudan. “But there are a lot of changes made to suit the Telugu audience,” Aditi added.
When asked how much her father’s name has helped her career, Aditi replied, “Everyone knows that Shankar’s daughter has entered the industry. But after that, you have to work hard and make a name for yourself. Nobody does you any favours because the producer is investing a lot of money in a film. Offers will come only after seeing the talent.”
As Shankar’s daughter, she neither feels pressure nor pleasure. “Definitely, it’s a challenge for me, but more respect comes from it. It’s fun having my father’s name,” she said. Talking more about her father, she revealed that he never discusses his film stories with the family. “We try to get some information when he’s talking on the phone or with someone. He never discusses them with us—he always protects his movies like a baby,” said Aditi.
Now, she follows the same approach. “I too never discuss and haven’t given details about my films to my father, but I do tell my mother,” she said.
Does her father watch her movies in the theater? “He doesn’t have any choice; he has to watch the first day, first show with me,” she said with a laugh. Any comments from him? “He has to come and enjoy whatever I do on screen as a father,” she added in a lighter vein. “He doesn’t say much, but when he watched my last film Premistava, he told me that I really did a good job as an artist. From my first film to the third, he has seen a lot of growth in me as an actor—which I feel is a great compliment,” said Aditi.
Aditi shared something interesting about her connection to Telugu films. “Magadheera was the first Telugu film I watched in the theatre and I’m a big fan of Rajamouli,” she said. She has also sung a few songs, and interestingly, her debut as a singer was with a Telugu film, Ghani. “I sang a song in Game Changer, but it is for the Tamil version,” she said. However, she didn’t sing any songs in Bhairavam.
Recalling her first day on set, Aditi said it was a bit difficult due to the language. “But it became easier because many people on the set spoke Tamil, which made me more comfortable. Also, I know Manoj Anna (Manchu Manoj), who is my neighbor in Chennai. When he first saw me on set, he said, ‘Machha, what are you doing here?’ and I asked the same. Rohit (Nara Rohit) also speaks Tamil along with Manoj Anna. It was fun shooting this film,” she said.
Speaking more about the fun on set, Aditi shared her love for food and cooking. “Manoj and Rohit cooked biryani, and I didn’t get an opportunity to cook. Every day food would come to me, and you can’t maintain a diet on set. So, daily I ate a lot of food and to compensate, I had to run,” she said. She added that the hospitality was at its peak. “It’s a new industry for me, but it is so welcoming,” she said.
When asked about her dream role, she said, “To do a historical or a period drama. I want to try the horror genre and also an action one.” Aditi shared screen space with two more actresses, Anandhi and Divya Pillai, in this film. “All three of us did very well, and we had a good rapport on set. We gelled really well,” she said.
