An actress who prefers to differ: Pranitha Subhash

With hit films like Attarintiki Daredi’ in Telugu, ‘Massu Engira Masilamani’ and ‘EnakkuVaaitha Adimaigal’ in Tamil, ‘Porki’ and ‘Bheema Theeradalli’ in Kannada, in the eight-year career and 23 films actress Bengaluru-girl Pranitha Subhash has garnered fans from across south India. Known for charming looks and glamorous roles, she has also endorsed well-known brands, been the face of jewellery lines.

Coming from a Doctors family, Pranitha felt it really tough to break barriers. Just by sheer chance, she got an offer to act in a film while pursuing studies, for which her parents did not agree. “I couldn’t take up that offer as my parents are very particular about education. After completing my graduation in commerce, I convinced my parents to let me do just one film, basically I always had this thing about being a little bit of drama queen,” she chuckles.

A year after her first offer, she agreed to act in Kannada film ‘Porki’ in 2010, starring opposite Kannada star Darshan, which is a remake of Telugu film Pokiri. “Then it was a chain reaction with film offers pouring in and my parents were like, ok you can continue…”

Consequently offers from other film industries poured in, giving her an opportunity to act in Tollywood and Kollywood also. She doesn’t cite language as a barrier to act, as being a Kannadiga, it was easy for her to pick up other South Indian languages.

As she acts in three film industries, she makes a conscious decision to select films. “I have always gone against the norm to be seen everywhere, I take it at my own pace. I should enjoy the whole process, because at the end it’s the process that matters. So, I don’t have that pressure to count the number of films I act in a year, as I balance my presence in all three industries likewise.”

“People I worked with are professional, after all their career is also at stake,” was her reaction to the casting couch discussion at the recently held India Today Conclave; the actress affirms that she isn’t being diplomatic. “I started from scratch in this film industry, from learning to act, dance, how to apply makeup, with what costume what shoes are to be matched. Everything, I have learnt from my directors, producers, co-stars and even makeup artists.”

She quickly adds, “You should not try too hard for anything as everything is destiny bound. Ti girls wanting to enter the film industry, I would say, do have aspirations but first finish your education and then follow your dream; This line - follow your dream is very misleading, where as education is tested and proven. You would have other opportunities open, even if you can’t make it into films. So please don’t run behind things that aren’t destined.”

The bubbly, fit and glamorous actress doesn’t believe in diet as she feels it is an overrated word. “I don’t believe in diet, as one day a researcher will say this food is bad and then after a year they will say the same food is good. They come up with new research everytime and the diet rules keep changing, so it is better to eat regular home cooked food to stay healthy.”

The Bengaluru girl co-owns two Resto Bar at prime locations of the city, for which she states, “Over three years back, I invested in Bootlegger at Lavelle Road and a year back we opened another chain of our high-end Resto Bar in Indiranagar. After all, I prefer to do what really interests me.”

By: Divya Rao