Actress Ritu Varma, who is next going to be seen in her upcoming film Mazaka, speaks about her journey, career, dream roles and more
suresh kavirayani
Actress Ritu Varma, who was last seen in Swag opposite Sree Vishnu (released last year) and Mark Antony with Sundeep Kishan (released the year before), is now gearing up for her next film, Mazaka. Despite her recent films not performing well at the box office, Ritu remains unfazed and continues to focus on projects that excite her.
Talking about Mazaka, in which she is paired with Sundeep Kishan once again, Ritu said she chooses her scripts based on her personal interest. “When writer Prasanna narrated the story, apart from the entertainment factor, it was high on emotional quotient. Both female characters have substantial roles to perform, which I found very appealing. While he was narrating the story, I was laughing throughout,” she shared.
Ritu started her career on a high note with successful films and strong performances. However, many of her recent films haven’t done well at the box office. Despite this, she remains positive about her journey.
“I am happy with my journey and very content as an actor. I never even thought I would become an actor, yet I have come this far and done many films. That itself is a big achievement for me. I have been part of some memorable films that people will remember for a long time. I don’t hold any bitter feelings, and I never saw myself as an unsuccessful actor,” she said.
Lately, except for a few, most Telugu actresses are not being cast opposite top heroes. When asked about this, Ritu responded, “I don’t know why this question is asked only to actresses repeatedly. You should ask the same to directors and producers.” However, she added, “Of course, I would love to work with top actors if I get the opportunity.”
Speaking about her role in Mazaka, Ritu revealed, “I play a young college girl. She is quite stubborn and due to some emotional conflicts from her childhood, her love life takes a certain turn—that’s the crux of the story.” She assured that the film is packed with entertainment and humor. “There are a lot of positive vibes around this film,” she said.
The film also stars Anshu of Manmadhudu fame as the other female lead. Talking about her co-star, Ritu said, “She is like a sister to me. This is her comeback film, and she worked really hard for it. To get into her character, she even started taking Telugu lessons. It was a great experience working with her.”
Ritu believes in bringing variation to her performances. “This phase is definitely different for me because, for the first time, I am doing a full-fledged commercial film. It’s a new space and I am excited about it,” she said.
When asked about frequently sharing screen space with another female lead, she explained, “Honestly, I never gave it much thought. I like a story and if I want to be a part of it, I sign the film. I don’t look at other actors and their roles.”
Ritu has been doing fewer films lately, with just one release last year and another the year before. When asked if she had deliberately slowed down, she clarified, “It wasn’t a conscious decision, and I never think about it that way. What is in my control is choosing films I like. If I connect with a script, I sign it. That’s how I operate.”
Ritu admitted that earlier, she would feel disappointed when a film didn’t perform well, but now she has learned to take it in stride. “Initially, I used to get affected by box-office results. But over time, I have learned to handle both success and failure equally. When a film becomes successful, I feel great. If it doesn’t do well, I move on and focus on my next project,” she said.
When asked if she felt the same way about Dhruva Natchathiram, the Gautham Vasudev Menon directorial that has been stuck in limbo for years, Ritu said, “Initially, I felt bad about it, but now I have moved on. I have done so many films since then. If it releases, I will be very happy, but that is not in my control.”
Ritu recalled a special moment from Mazaka when she received high praise from veteran actor Rao Ramesh. “There is a scene in the second half between me and Rao Ramesh garu. That day, the scene came out so well that the entire unit was happy about it. Later, when he was dubbing for the scene, he got emotional, called me and appreciated my performance. He told me he hadn’t seen such an impactful scene in his 16 years of experience. That was truly a memorable compliment for me,” she shared.
Director Nakkina’s remarks at a promotional event recently went viral for being inappropriate. Addressing concerns about whether Mazaka has similar humor, Ritu clarified, “It is a clean comedy and full of fun. The director is very respectful and I don’t think he meant to say anything offensive.”
When asked about the kind of roles she dreams of doing, Ritu said, “I want to do an action role. Also, people think I am a serious actor, so I would love to do a full-length comedy film. I am also keen on a period drama. Though I did Swag, my role in it was quite small. I want to do a full-fledged period drama.”
As for her future projects, she confirmed that she has signed a new Telugu film. “The production house will officially announce the details soon,” she said. Additionally, she is set to make her Telugu web series debut.
“My first web series in Telugu will be releasing soon,” she concluded.
