रजनी सर ने तारीफ की तो शॉक्ड हो गई: वेधिका कुमार बोलीं-  मेरे लिए इमोशनल मोमेंट था, दूसरों को सुपर स्टार जैसा फील करवाते हैं

Apart from all the South languages, actress Vedhika Kumar has also worked in Hindi films. Recently the actress came to Dainik Bhaskar office in Mumbai and had a special conversation about her journey in films. During this, the actress also shared the story of her first meeting with South Cinema superstar Rajinikanth. The actress told that when she met Rajni sir after ‘Kanchana 3’ and Rajni sir praised her acting, she was shocked. It was a very emotional moment for him. Let us know what more Vedhika Kumar said during the conversation.

Question- Tell us something about your childhood?

Answer- I was born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra at my grandparents’ house and brought up in Mumbai. She used to dance in front of the mirror in her childhood. She used to act like Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit after watching their films. Whenever programs were held in school and college, she used to dance on his hit songs. During that time I started realizing that I wanted to become an actor. Apart from this, neither did I think anything nor did I get time to think. I started acting right after college, but after that I took a short break from acting and completed my studies from UK.

Question- You grew up in Mumbai, then how did you start acting in South cinema?

Answer- I started in South cinema with a Biscuit ad with Surya. A Mumbai agency had done casting for that ad. Which was directed by Priyadarshan Sir. Surya sir was a very big star at that time. Had a very good experience with him. Dear Darshan, I am a big fan of Sir, it has been very comfortable working with him. He is a down to earth person. It was a matter of great pride for me that I got a chance to work with such an actor and director. After this ad, Mary’s journey in South films started. Till now I have done more than 30 South films.

Question- When you told your family about the acting profession for the first time, what was their reaction?

Answer: No one took me seriously in my childhood. Everyone thought that she was dancing because she had a hobby. She felt that maybe she would do something else when she grows up, but that never changed. I myself am surprised that the passion started in childhood. It has not subsided yet.

Question- Have you also taken acting training?

Answer- Yes, I had taken acting training for a few months from Atul Mongia and Kishore Namit Kapoor sir. After this, during Covid, I adopted a new process. I did an online acting course from Los Angeles. The time of Covid was a time of learning for me.

Question- What was the atmosphere like during the shooting of the first film ‘Madrasi’?

Answer- The first day’s shooting was in Mumbai only. At that time I did not know Tamil at all. She used to memorize dialogues by writing them in Hindi. Now Tamil has become like my mother tongue. I also speak Telugu. ‘Muni’ was released after ‘Madrasi’. This film was directed by Raghav Lawrence. This film has been the turning point film of my career. This was a horror comedy film. After this Lawrence sir made Kanchana, Kanchana 2 and Kanchana 3. After Muni, I also worked in Kanchana 3. Now Kanchana 4 is going to be made. All these films are franchises of ‘Muni’.

‘Kanchana 3’ is a franchise of ‘Muni’. Now preparations for ‘Kanchana 4’ are going on.

Question- At that time did you think that its franchise would be such a big hit?

Answer- Horror comedy is a very fun genre. It can be called a family oriented genre. It can be watched sitting with the entire family. There is not so much horror in it that children get scared after watching the film. There is laughter as well as fear in this. It is a very interesting combination of both. I had no expectation that its franchise would be such a big hit. After the success of Muni franchise and Chandramukhi, everyone in the South started making horror comedy films. After that this trend started in Bollywood also.

Question- You are compared with many big actresses, how do you view this compliment?

Answer- It feels very good. I have always considered Sridevi ma’am as my idol. Had also met him once in Dubai. I like her dance, performance and beauty very much. Today we miss him a lot. There are very few people like him in the industry. It is a matter of great pride for me that people compare me with them, but I want to create my own identity.

Question- How do you want to make your mark in the industry?

Answer- I want people to know me by my challenging roles. I have played many challenging roles till now. I had done the Tamil film ‘Pardesi’ under the direction of Bala sir. This was a big turning point film in my career. She was so excited about this film that she could not sleep during the shooting. My look was very different in this film. After this film, I started getting performance oriented films.

Vedhika Kumar worked with Emraan Hashmi and Rishi Kapoor in the film ‘The Body’.

Question- Your entry in Bollywood was with Emraan Hashmi’s film ‘The Body’. Why such late entry in Hindi cinema?

Answer- I was very busy in the South, so I was not able to pay much attention here. I also got offers, but could not do it due to date problems. There were some films in which I did not like the character. When I got the offer of ‘The Body’, I was very excited about this film. I believe that whatever has to happen, happens only when it has to happen. Currently, talks are going on for some good projects for 2025. Something good will happen.

Question- You have worked in five languages, how do you balance?

Answer: It is very difficult to balance, because every language has its own distinct tone. When I was doing ‘The Body’ after South films, I was facing a lot of difficulty in speaking Hindi. Whereas I have been speaking Hindi since childhood. Right now I have learned Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

Vedhika Kumar met Rajinikanth for the first time after the release of ‘Kanchana 3’.

Question- Any beautiful compliment in your career so far, which has touched your heart?

Answer- When ‘Kanchana 3’ became a big hit, Raghav had gone with Lawrence sir to meet Rajini sir (Rajinikanth). He is such a superstar who makes others feel like superstars. Rajni sir had seen my film ‘Shivlinga’ three years ago. He praised my acting while describing each scene of the film. I was shocked. That was a very emotional moment for me.

Question- During Covid, talks were being raised about casting couch and drugs in Bollywood. It was said that there is a lot of dirt here. Have you ever faced such things?

Answer- I have worked mostly in the South, I have never faced such things there. In Hindi, he has worked in only one film ‘The Body’. Things like this can happen in any industry. Since people of the film industry live in lime light, all these things become high light here. It doesn’t happen as much as people exaggerate. Even if this happens to someone, we cannot ignore it.

Question- Recently, many such cases have come to light in the South Film Industry also. How has been your experience?

Answer: I have never had a bad experience. It is not that everyone in the South film industry is like this. I believe that if such misbehavior happens to anyone anywhere then one should raise voice against it. One should try to stay away from such people. Bad experiences never come verbally. It can happen anywhere.

Question- What is the biggest struggle and success for you?

Answer: The biggest struggle is that you have to prove yourself with every project. Success for me is that I give my hundred percent in every task. If I have given hundred percent then I have achieved success.

Question- What is the ambition of this time?

Answer- The biggest ambition at this time is to do good work. There are some good projects in 2025. I am very happy about that. Personally, I would like to take care of my health.