I’m hungry for stories that stay with people; the money doesn’t matter: Chaithra J Achar

Actor Chaithra J Achar is excited for audiences to meet Diksha, a character she describes as unpredictable, flawed and deeply human from her upcoming film Maaranami. For Chaithra, the film stood out from the first narration, even though she initially had to turn it down due to date clashes. “The first time I heard the script, I really liked it. But I had other shoots, and I didn’t want to say yes and then create scheduling conflicts. I believe if I take up something, it should be hassle-free for everyone,” she says.

‘My character is volatile, impulsive and unapologetic’
The actor says what drew her to the role was how different Diksha was from anything she had played before. “She’s a very volatile and unpredictable girl. She makes decisions impulsively and lives with them. I’m not like that in real life at all. I overthink everything. But playing her felt very liberating, like I was exploring an alter ego,” she shares. Set against the backdrop of Mangaluru’s Dasara and huli vesha culture, the film traces a love story across three festive seasons, showing how the couple’s lives evolve. “It’s a romantic story, but also full of turmoil. We’re not showing ideal love. We’re showing real love — with mistakes and consequences,” she adds.

‘Short film or feature film, I want to be a part of a good script’
Despite a busy schedule, Chaithra recently agreed to do a short film by a young filmmaker simply because she loved the script. “She mailed it to me, thinking I’d never reply. But I read it and said yes. Budget doesn’t matter. I’m greedy and hungry for good scripts.” For her, the goal is simple.“I just want to be part of good projects at the right time in my life. I want to grow with my roles, with my age and with my experiences.”

‘Real women are flawed’
One of the biggest reasons she said yes to the film was how the character was written — with flaws and grey shades. “We always show women as goddesses or helpless victims. But real women aren’t like that.” she says. “In this film, Diksha has desires, mistakes and an ugly side. She’s human. People may judge her or feel empathetic towards her, but that’s the beauty of it.”

‘Filmmakers come to me with stronger, intense characters, now’
After a string of notable performances, the actor says filmmakers now approach her with more substantial roles.“They don’t come to me with short-lived or purposeless characters anymore. They filter it before they approach me, which is a good thing.” Interestingly, most of the roles coming her way now are intense and layered. “Many of them are very flawed characters. It takes a lot of energy to prepare, but that’s the fun part. I’m a very chirpy, happy person in real life. So acting lets me become someone completely different.”

‘I’m just taking it one film at a time’
At a time when conversations around the state of the Kannada Film Industry continue, Chaithra says she prefers to focus on her own work rather than the larger noise. “I’m just taking everything one day at a time. I’m being mindful of the scripts I choose. Sometimes it’s money, sometimes it’s the script, sometimes it’s both. That balance is important.” She believes every individual contribution helps the industry grow. “If I do my job well, and the cameraman, director and music director do theirs, there can’t be a bad film.”



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