Filming on a replica of Columbus’ ship took me to another era: Ashika Ranganath

Ashika Ranganath is stepping into new territory with Gatha Vaibhava, a period fantasy directed by Simple Suni and co-starring debutant Dushyanth. “The film spans multiple eras, weaving mythology, reincarnation, and fantasy into a visually rich narrative,” shares the actress.

One of the highlights of the Kannada–Telugu bilingual, Ashika says, was stepping into the shoes of a voyager from another era. “A portion of the film draws inspiration from the journeys of Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus, so my ‘voyager’ look was inspired by 14th-century fashion,” she says. “We shot in Portugal on a replica of Columbus’s ship, the Santa Maria de Colombo. Although I’ve travelled on cruises before, filming long hours on water was initially quite nerve-racking. But with the confidence of our director and support from the team, I eased into it, and the experience turned out to be thrilling.”

The film also sees her in contrasting roles — from a celestial being to a Mangaluru girl. “Playing a Deva Kanya meant wearing elaborate jewellery. It looked stunning but performing in such heavy pieces was a challenge,” she recalls. “For another portion, both Dushyanth and I had to work on the Mangaluru dialect. I had a tutor to help me perfect the nuances, and even the dubbing process was a learning experience.”

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It’s rare to get a film that lets you explore so many shades as an actor. Gatha Vaibhava allowed me to step into different worlds, from mythological to historical, and discover new aspects of my craft.

- Divya Shree


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