From schoolgirl reader to Bangalore Times cover girl: Sapthami Gowda

My memories of Bangalore Times go back to much before cinema entered my life. Growing up, the newspaper was a constant presence at home, part of a routine that never really changed. The moment the Times of India came home, the first thing we did was look for Bangalore Times. That’s where all the colour was — fashion, films, lifestyle, little city stories. Sundays were especially exciting; we genuinely looked forward to it.My first appearance in Bangalore Times came very early in my career, around the release of Popcorn Monkey Tiger. I still remember walking into the MG Road office for the interview and shoot. We did a small interview first, followed by a photoshoot on the staircase inside the office. Later, we even stepped out onto MG Road for more pictures — Dhananjaya, Amrutha and me — as part of the film’s promotions.What made that moment unforgettable was the surprise. Nobody knew about it. I didn’t even know when it would be published. Suddenly, my friends started calling and saying, “We saw you on Bangalore Times. Is this really happening?” That’s when it truly felt real. I remember preparing for that shoot very carefully. I still remember what I wore — a yellow salwar. I was particular because it was Bangalore Times. I knew so many people would see it, and that mattered.Those feelings came from years of growing up with the paper. In school, we were asked to read the newspaper and talk about it in class. But even before that, I would always read Bangalore Times first — the comic strips, crossword puzzles, TV schedules. That’s how we knew when Mr Bean was coming on or when an animated Ramayana would air.Beyond entertainment, Bangalore Times also helped me understand the city itself. The flower show at Lalbagh, issues around Sankey Tank, events happening across Bengaluru — we learned about our city through the paper. The photographs were so inviting, they made you want to step out and experience it all.As my career progressed, my association with Bangalore Times grew deeper. When Kantara was announced, I remember this newspaper being among the first to reach out to me. That’s when promotions really picked up. After that came several features, festival shoots, even holiday pictures. What makes this bond especially meaningful is how closely my life has grown alongside the paper. Bangalore Times was launched in 1997, just a year after I was born. It feels like the paper grew as the city grew — and in a way, I grew with it. From reading it as a schoolgirl to being featured in it as an actor, that journey feels deeply personal.