I'm in the most exciting phase of my career: Ritu Varma

Despite starting her career with a supporting role in Jr NTR’s Baadshah (2013), Ritu Varma has carved a distinct space for herself in Tollywood. Her critically acclaimed performance in the 2016 Telugu film Pelli Choopulu propelled her to fame, and she’s since carefully chosen roles that showcase her versatility, like the recent hits Oke Oka Jeevitham and Nitham Oru Vaanam. Looking back on her journey, Varma reflects on the challenges she faced, balancing projects in Telugu and Tamil, and the excitement of collaborating with filmmaker Gautham Vasudev Menon on the upcoming film Dhruva Nakshathram (Dhruva Natchathiram in Tamil).

‘Waiting for the right scripts is the most difficult part’
The trajectory of my journey feels surreal. I stumbled into acting by chance and never considered it a career path. Over the past decade, I’ve been fortunate to portray impactful characters like Chitra in Pelli Choopulu, Bhoomi in Varudu Kaavalenu, Tara in Ninnila Ninnila, Ramya in Mark Antony and etc. Reflecting on how much I’ve grown as an actor is truly gratifying. However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Waiting for the right scripts was the most challenging aspect, leading to some career gaps. There were even years without a single release. But things started to turn around post-2020. With the rise of OTT platforms, opportunities have exploded, and actors like myself are no longer confined to a single type of work. It’s definitely the most exciting phase to be in!

‘Not a deliberate effort to maintain a balance between doing Telugu and Tamil films’
Since my debut in Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (Kanulu Kanulanu Dhochaayante in Telugu), I’ve been active in both Telugu and Tamil cinema. However, it hasn’t been a conscious effort to maintain a balance. I select my projects solely based on the strength of the script and my instincts, without making calculated decisions about language. I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to work in various languages. Whenever I travel, I’m pleasantly surprised by the recognition I receive from audiences in the Telugu states, Chennai, and even Kerala, especially after collaborating with Dulquer Salmaan in Kannum Kannum. I’m currently looking forward to my upcoming Tamil thriller Dhruva Natchathiram (Dhruva Nakshathram in Telugu) and the Telugu family drama Swag.

‘Unreal experience to work with Gautham Menon and Vikram’
The continuous postponement of Dhruva Natchathiram’s release has been quite disheartening for me. We’ve all been eagerly awaiting its release for a long time. It’s an exceptional film, and I’m eager for the audience to experience Gautham sir’s magic once again. Being a huge Gautham Vasudev Menon fan girl, working under him was a dream come true. When the poster of Dhruva Natchathiram was released, I was ecstatic and couldn’t stop talking about it all day. That excitement only amplified when I received a call from Gautham sir’s team later that evening for the female lead role. After a few screen tests, I was selected for the role and it was an unreal experience to be a part of a film directed by Gautham Menon and to act opposite Vikram.

Written by- M Priyanka Goud
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