Drishika Chander steps into the spotlight

Drishika Chander, a graduate of the Parsons School of Design, New York, and the daughter of Nandi Award-winning costume designer Deepa Chander, she grew up around cinema but found her way into acting gradually. Speaking to us, the Hyderabadi girl talks about her journey, early recognition, and her plans going forward.

‘Academics gave me discipline, acting gave me expression’

Before entering films, Drishika focused heavily on her education. “Academics taught me discipline and patience, and acting requires the same,” she says. She began as a theatre artiste before transitioning to the screen, allowing the shift to happen organically rather than as a calculated decision.

‘Manasanamaha changed everything for me’

She first caught the audience’s attention in 2020 with the critically acclaimed Telugu short film Manasanamaha, which went on to achieve a Guinness World Record and global recognition. “My performance earned me over 40 international Best Actress awards. That project gave me confidence and made me realise the kind of impact storytelling can have,” she says. She has since appeared in Telugu films like Bucchi Naidu Kandriga and A Beautiful Girl, along with Hindi projects including Hey Kameeni, while continuing her work in theatre, notably in Evam Indrajit. “Theatre teaches you to stay present and honest in a performance,” she says.

‘I want to explore stories across languages’

Having worked in Telugu and Hindi films, Drishika is now expanding into Malayalam cinema. Fluent in multiple languages, she is keen on exploring diverse industries. “I don’t want to limit myself,” she says. “For me, it always starts with the story — if I connect with it, everything else follows.”

‘Suyodhana is a performance-driven film’

Her upcoming Telugu film Suyodhana, a mystery thriller directed by YS Madav Reddy, sees her starring alongside Priyadarshi in an emotionally layered role. “It’s not a loud character. A lot of what she feels is internal, and that made it challenging, you have to convey so much without saying too much,” she says, signing off.

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