Your fan following depends on your looks

It's like I am playing myself, just with a different name,' says Samyuktha Hegde about her role in

Kirik Party

. The 19-year-old plays Aarya, a bubbly, happy-go-lucky tomboy in this week's much-awaited release. The dancer, who's turned actress by chance, spoke to us about how movies just happened to her and why her co-star Rakshit Shetty is someone she can lean on. Excerpts'

You wanted to be a dancer. How did acting happen?
I have been a dancer all my life and my sole focus was to enroll in a dance school in London to learn ballet, and to work on my skills to become a better dancer. I never wanted to get into films, but Kirik Party just happened to me. The team was searching for girls on a social networking site and they liked my profile. They got in touch with me through a mutual friend and offered me the role. The first time I got the call, I thought it was a prank. This continued a few more times, until I visited Rakshit's house, which is when I knew that this was for real. We had a regular conversation and after that they told me that I was selected. I couldn't believe it. Although I never planned on entering films, when it did happen, I thought that if I could get to jump ahead to the next step, then why not? But I will never quit dancing ' that is what keeps me alive.

Did acting come naturally to you or was it something you had to work on?
Rashmika's (Mandanna) shoot was first, and mine next, so I used to observe what was taking place on the set every day. But you can't pick up much by just watching. When it was time for me to shoot, I found it very hard; I was giving 23-24 takes for a single scene. I felt really bad that I was doing badly, because I am someone who believes in perfection. Wherever I dance, I make sure that people fall in love with me, and seeing me dance, they normally do. But my shoot wasn't going as planned. Seeing my struggle, Rakshit spoke to me and asked me to not act, but to just be myself. I gave an OK take that day, but went back home and cried, thinking that I let everyone and myself down. I then began taking feedback and understanding what I should be doing. I was very bad in the beginning, but by the end of the movie, I was able to stand with Rakshit and can scenes in 1-2 takes. I learnt everything on the sets.

Was it intimidating to work with such a well-known team?
I was very scared. Rakshit and (director) Rishab (Shetty) are known to make good films. Rakshit is a very smart filmmaker and knows what people want. So, it was very intimidating to act by his side. But he's very soothing and happy person, who knows how to make you feel comfortable. The entire team made me feel like family. Rakshit is like a buddy now ' he calls me kiddo ' and our bond is such that I know that there is someone I can turn to in the film industry.



What is your character, Aarya, like?
She is a bubbly, happy-go-lucky tomboy. Basically, I am playing myself, just with another name. Aarya is a normal college-going student who falls in love with the protagonist (played by Rakshit), but he's in love with Saanvi (played by Rashmika). I can't reveal too much about my character as that will give the story away. But everyone I know thinks that the role is made for me; even the title is perfect for me (laughs).

What kind of a relationship do you share with Rashmika, considering you both play the female leads in your first film?
We are really good friends, and have been that way from the moment we met. She's mature when compared to me, and was like my elder sister on set. She's a very nice person, but at the same time, when it comes to acting, we are competitive. We are both hardworking, so the competition is healthy.

There is so much hype around the movie. Does that make you nervous?
I am not nervous about the movie at all, because I know that it is going to be received well. What I am nervous about is the expectations that people have from me, and if I will meet them. This is why despite getting a few offers, I haven't signed any other movie yet. I want to see how people will accept me, take their criticism and see if I need to work on something.

You have said that you don't have conventional actor looks...
When I look at Rashmika, even I fall in love with her because she is so pretty; she looks like a doll. I look like the girl next door, so I think that I am probably not ideal heroine material. In showbiz, looks are very important. Your fan following depends on your looks, at least in the beginning. After a while, they start appreciating how you act, so I think that I will take a little longer to get an audience that follows me when compared to a conventionally pretty actress. But I am not insecure about my looks at all.

Are you a film buff?
I like old Kannada films, and am a big Vishnuvardhan and Shankar Nag fan. From the current crop of actors, Kareena Kapoor in Jab We Met is my all-time favourite. There was a time during school holidays when I watched that movie every day for three months. I would love to play such a character, if given a chance. I also think that Alia Bhatt is a brilliant actor, and I have a girl crush on Deepika Padukone!