My debut film hasn’t released, but I’ve already signed my third: Ankita Amar

It’s a classic tale of television to films for Ankita Amar. Trained classical singer Ankita, anchor of music reality show Yedhe Thumbi Haduvenu, and lead of daily soap Nammane Yuvarani, still revels in her role of Meera which continues to hold clout long after the serial was done. “It’s been one-and-a-half years, and people still recognise me as Meera on the streets. I didn’t realise the role’s impact. Now, I’ll have to give them more characters to make memories with,” she smiles.
An unexpected entry into films
Wrapping up Nammane Yuvarani, she was instantly besieged with film offers, even though films weren’t on her mind. Aba Jaba Daba, directed by Mayuraa Raghavendra, piqued her attention. “I play a singer and, as a singer in real life, I was curious about being one onscreen,” she says.
Chandrajith Belliappa’s Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali followed, where she plays a poet with a fondness for vineyards. “With Chan sir, the process was rather intriguing. I remembered how we were hand-held through the process of writing in school. Chan sir’s technique is a lot like that. He is patient and teaches you from scratch,” she says.

‘Yet to wrap my head around it’
“What’s surprising? My debut film hasn’t been released yet, and I’ve already signed my third film. I’m yet to wrap my head around it. I seriously don’t understand how the makers have reposed such trust in me even before seeing my work. One can only feel humbled,” she adds.
‘Always wanted to be a part of films that do festival rounds’
Ankita’s third film, My Hero, is directed by Avinash Vijaykumar, starring Prakash Belawadi, Dattanna and Hollywood actor Djilali Rez-Kallah.
“It about a little boy from Karnataka whose circumstances take him to Varanasi. I’m his caretaker. An American understands the boy’s situation, and tries to help him out,” explains Ankita.
Shooting in Madhya Pradesh, she has come back enchanted. “I’ve always wanted to be part of films that do festival rounds. I’m happy it has happened with this film. Not sure which of my films will be released first, so, I’m as curious as the audience to see myself on celluloid,” Ankita concludes.