We rarely get to see powerful women with male sidekicks: Bhavana

Actor Bhavana Ramanna, who was last seen in her home production, Niruttara, in 2016, is playing a key role in the Dhananjaya-Aditi Prabhudeva starrer, Once Upon a Time in Jamaligudda.

Bhavana has been in the industry, on and off, for 26 years, choosing her roles carefully, but always managing to grab attention with her experimental looks and roles.

“Every time I make a film, it feels like a comeback because I always take time to choose a role. I have been offered many roles where the makers want me to just stand behind the protagonist or supporting characters. But I don’t want to do that. I believe that women have more shades to them. So, when director Kushal Gowda narrated my part, I found it interesting.”

“Also, we shot the film the old-school way, taking master shots first and then going for close-ups and suggestions. I believe the film has come out well,” she shares.


Bhavana plays Payal, a second-gen North Indian settled in Karnataka. “Payal is a strong, powerful woman who has her contacts stretched over different departments. Also, her right-hand person is a man. We rarely get to see powerful women with male sidekicks. I found that very interesting,” she says.

“I have a very different look and the role is a little hatke from what I have done all these years,” says Bhavana, while speaking of the need to adapt to the changes in the industry. “It is important to be comfortable with the roles we play. We need to adapt to the changing times and to the character,” she says.

Sharing her experience of working with the lead actors, Dhananjaya and Aditi, Bhavana says, “A few scenes with Aditi were really strong and she co-operated very well. And I had only one scene with Dhananjaya. I may be a senior, but he is already a star. My previous co-stars were people I knew well and we started our careers together. So, I was a little apprehensive about sharing the screen with Dhananjaya. But it was okay as I am not paired opposite him.”

Bhavana says Jamaligudda is a film that soothes the eyes and heart. “The film spans the 90s to late 2000s. Art director Satish has done a great job with the vibe. Jamaaligudda is different from Dhananjaya’s previous films and has a slight Mexican film treatment to it,” she concludes.

Once Upon a Time in Jamaligudda is slated to release on December 30.