Latest news with #RitikaNayak
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
I'm building my own space in Tollywood, one role at a time: Ritika Nayak
Born and brought up in Delhi in a middle-class Odia family, Ritika Nayak never thought her love for South films would one day take her to the heart of the Telugu film industry. 'I've always been a movie kid — dancing in front of the mirror to Bollywood songs and watching Hindi-dubbed South films with my mom after school,' she smiles, recalling the beginnings of a fascination that started young. In a household where academics were always the first priority, the idea of a film career seemed far-fetched. That changed in 2019, when Ritika was crowned winner of the 12th edition of Delhi Times Fresh Face. The title opened doors to modelling assignments and screen tests, nudging her closer to a path she had never dared to dream of. 'Coming from a middle-class family, I never thought I'd enter this field. Looking back, my family and I feel it was destiny. I didn't plan this, but the opportunities came, and I grabbed them with gratitude,' she says, in a chat with Hyderabad Times. 'I didn't want to be boxed into sister roles' Ritika made her Tollywood debut with Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam (2022), a role that earned her a SIIMA nomination for Best Female Debut – Telugu. Following that, she was approached for Hi Nanna (2023). 'When Shaurya (director Shouryav) first approached me, it was for the role of Mrunal Thakur's younger sister. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo I had just finished playing a similar role in another film, and I didn't want to be typecast so early in my career. So I politely turned it down. Later, they asked if I'd be open to playing the grown-up Mahi and I said yes immediately,' she says. 'Each character has pushed me to grow in a different way' Ritika's current and upcoming films span a wide spectrum. In Mirai, she plays Vibha, an emotionally layered role in a mythological period drama alongside Teja Sajja . 'There were moments I felt I wasn't doing justice to a scene, but Teja would calm me down and say, 'Chill, you've got this.' That reassurance meant a lot,' she shares. She also has Duet with Anand Deverakonda and VT15 with Varun Tej , an Indo-Korean horror comedy, in the pipeline. 'I'm so excited about these projects — each character has pushed me to grow in a different way, both emotionally and as a performer,' she says. 'I look up to women who've carved their own path' As someone navigating the industry without a filmi background, Ritika finds inspiration in self-made women. 'I used to have such a girl crush on Sai Pallavi garu after watching Fidaa — her choreography, acting, and sense of self are incredible. I also admire Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra. All of them are headstrong women who built their careers without any industry connections. That's something I deeply relate to and aspire towards, and hope to achieve in my own journey,' she says, signing off. 'Books became my way of learning and then, loving language' 'My reading journey began at a young age. Someone at school once said my English pronunciation and vocabulary weren't great. That really stuck with me, and I took it as a challenge. I started watching Hollywood films and reading more to improve — and that's when my love for reading truly began. I've never looked back since.' - Divya Shree
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Varun Tej's ‘VT15' gears up for Korean schedule after electrifying Indian schedules
Mega Prince Varun Tej is set to push cinematic boundaries with his upcoming genre-bending Indo-Korean horror-comedy, tentatively titled #VT15. Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, the film has already generated immense buzz following the release of a visually arresting poster on Varun Tej's birthday. Jointly produced by UV Creations and First Frame Entertainment on a grand scale, the film promises a unique blend of horror and humour, elevated by S Thaman's high-octane musical score. Production is progressing at a brisk pace, with two impactful schedules already wrapped. The team kicked off shooting with a traditional pooja ceremony in Hyderabad, followed by intensive filming across Hyderabad and Ananthapur. The latter included iconic locations such as the KIA grounds and scenic village landscapes, capturing much of the film's action-packed and humour-laced first half. The film features a vibrant ensemble cast including Ritika Nayak, Satya, and Mirchi Kiran, who have brought comedic flair to the spooky narrative. A key highlight from the Ananthapur schedule is a visually captivating song sequence between Varun Tej and Ritika Nayak, set against the rustic backdrops that perfectly complement the film's quirky, eerie tone. Now, all eyes are on the film's next leg, which takes the team to Korea. This international schedule is expected to delve deep into the cross-cultural horror-comedy fusion, fully unleashing the film's ambitious Indo-Korean premise. With its unique concept, star power, and international scale, #VT15 is poised to be a genre-defining cinematic ride.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Varun Tej's #VT15 unit wraps up Ananthapur schedule; To head to Korea next!
The unit of director 's upcoming Indo-Korean horror comedy, tentatively titled #VT15 and featuring actor in the lead, has now wrapped up its Ananthapur schedule and is all set to head to Korea for its next schedule. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Work on #VT15, which is being jointly produced on a grand scale by UV Creations and First Frame Entertainment, seems to be progressing rapidly. After kicking things off with an auspicious pooja ceremony in Hyderabad, the team has wrapped up two electrifying schedules - first in Hyderabad and then in the heart of Ananthapur, where shooting took place at a number of places including the iconic KIA grounds and picturesque village locales. 'Down to earth': Newlywed Varun Tej wins hearts with his kind gesture towards fans at airport These shoots captured the essence of the film's thrilling first half, packed with gripping scenes and punchy humour brought to life by a dynamic cast. Sources claim Ritika Nayak, Satya, Mirchi Kiran, and other stellar performers have all infused humour into every frame of the film shot so far. Also, they claimed that one of the highlights of the Ananthapur schedule was a visually stunning song sequence that was shot. The song, which featured Varun Tej and Ritika Nayak, was filmed amidst rustic, soul-stirring landscapes that synced perfectly with the film's quirky yet eerie tone. Sources now claim that the #VT15 crew is preparing for the film's international leg, with its next stop being Korea. This upcoming schedule they say will unleash the much-anticipated Indo-Korean horror-comedy crossover in full force. The film has already generated significant buzz, especially following its announcement on Varun Tej's birthday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The release of a captivating poster from the film in January this year had sparked enthusiastic reactions from fans and film buffs. The poster seemed to promise a thrilling and humorous cinematic experience. But more importantly, the fact that an Indian actor will be working on a joint Indo-Korean film has thrilled fans, who are eager to see how the film will turn out. The film has one of south Indian cinema's top music directors, S Thaman, scoring music for it. It has art direction being handled by Paneer Selvam.
