I owe my presence in Kannada cinema to Darshan: Rachana

For newcomer Rachana Rai, her very first film, The Devil, directed by Prakash Veer, placed her opposite the Kannada superstar Darshan. “People often ask if it was sheer luck, but I truly believe it’s all because of Darshan sir,” says Rachana. “He was the one who insisted, ‘Local hudugine heroine aagi haakolona’ (Let’s cast a local girl as the heroine). Auditions came about, and then Prakash sir chose me,” she says. Excerpts:
‘DARSHAN SIR’S SUPPORT FOR HOMEGROWN TALENT IS SOMETHING I ADMIRE’
Born and raised in the coastal town of Puttur in Karnataka, Rachana had earlier acted in the Tulu film Circus. “I initially wanted to become a veterinarian but realised I couldn’t handle the sight of blood. That’s when I turned to the arts — dance, writing, and acting — and that path eventually brought me here,” she shares. “I know that a film like ours would have generated a lot of buzz, but I appreciate how Darshan sir firmly believed that local girls should be given preference. He has always championed Kannada and its people — and that’s something we must acknowledge. Prakash sir, too, shares the same vision, always speaking about uplifting local talent. Both of them are completely aligned in their beliefs,” she says. Rachana recalls her first meeting with Darshan during their Udaipur schedule. “We bonded over our mutual love for animals. He simply said, ‘Aaramaage maadi…yen tension madkobedi’ (Just relax… don’t stress), and that was more than enough to help me settle into the flow.”

‘I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER MY ROOTS, NO MATTER WHERE I GO’
“While shooting for this film, we were staying at a palace in Udaipur. As a newcomer, I didn’t expect the same treatment or accommodation as the rest of the team, but I was pampered throughout. I know it’s rare to be part of such a grand production, and I’m incredibly grateful,” she says. “I’m not saying that every actor needs five-star accommodation. But it was heartening to be treated with respect and dignity. Every female artiste deserves that,” she tells us. “Going forth, I will be happy to do any film where I can show my acting chops; big or small project really doesn’t matter. I’m here to do my job and secure a future. Kannada audiences are happy even if you make a name outside; they just want you to remember your roots, that’s all,” says Rachana