‘Audiences no longer want the perfect girl on screen’ says Nabha Natesh

Having begun her career playing the affable, girl-next-door in films like Nannu Dochukunduvate and Solo Brathuke So Better, Nabha Natesh is now consciously reshaping her trajectory. With upcoming projects Nagabandham, a mythology drama, and Swayambhu, a period action film, the actor is stepping into roles that move beyond familiarity, leaning into layered, emotionally complex characters. In conversation with Hyderabad Times, she reflects on this transition, her evolving choices, and why she believes audiences are ready to embrace more nuanced portrayals of women on screen.‘It takes a conscious effort to shift direction in your career’When I started out, I mostly played the girlfriend type roles in commercial films that audiences loved. That phase was important, and I’m grateful for what it gave me, but over time, I felt the need to explore new dimensions of my craft. It takes a conscious effort to shift direction, especially when audiences are used to seeing you in a certain way. With Nagabandham and Swayambhu, I’m exploring how women quietly yet powerfully shape narratives. Even historically, in epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, women have always influenced stories, even if that influence isn’t always visible. I’m also drawn to vulnerability; characters who go through emotional or psychological struggles and grow through them. That’s something I feel hasn’t been explored enough when it comes to women on screen, and this phase of my career is about embracing those layers.‘I’m drawn to characters who hold the story together in their own way’ Earlier, I would often get to play characters with a single intention, like being someone’s love interest, but that has started to change. In Nagabandham, I play Parvathi, and she is very different from what I’ve done before. She evolves along with the story and comes with a certain intensity and emotional depth. She is also someone who safeguards the secrets within the narrative, preserving its mystic elements and the mystery surrounding it, which makes her integral to the story.In Swayambhu, I play Sundara Valli, and while the treatment is very different, the character holds a similar sense of importance. She is deeply rooted and carries a sense of stillness, standing like a rock in support of the hero. She becomes a quiet but constant force behind his motivations and actions.While Parvathi expresses intensity and Sundara Valli embodies restraint, both characters contribute to shaping the narrative in their own ways, which is something I’ve been consciously drawn to.‘Everyone has imperfections, & cinema should reflect that’ On screen, we often see flawed male characters, and that has become a trend — the imperfect man as a protagonist. But what about women? Are audiences ready to accept women with flaws too? I believe they are.Everyone has imperfections, and cinema has the opportunity to reflect that truth. Being flawed, making mistakes, learning and growing… that’s the natural rhythm of life. But very often, women in films are presented as “perfect,” which isn’t real.Today, audiences are looking for depth and authenticity. This doesn’t have to define the entire film. It can come through in a line, a gesture or a small moment. Audiences no longer want the “perfect girl” on screen because perfection doesn’t exist. People are beginning to connect more with characters who feel real, those who make mistakes, evolve and carry complexity. That’s something I want to continue exploring through my choices.— Divya Shree