My understanding is that Telugu films have a wider reach and appeal: Sanjana Shetty

I am from Karnataka and Tulu is my mother tongue. I have done my B.Com and Interior Designing course. Modelling started in parallel when I was still an Interior Designing student. I had a stint with print media. I auditioned for Femina Style Diva South in the last leg of my academic life. That was my first foray into the fashion industry. 

As a teen, I was fascinated by cine stars. I started doing ads for jewelry brands. Acting followed modelling. Among films that I love are 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hain', especially the screen presence of the SRK-Kajol duo.

My understanding is that Telugu films have a wider reach and appeal. When I started out with acting trials, Kannada was yet to take off. Things have changed since then, though. In my Telugu debut feature film, I am going to be seen in a non-glamorous role that is performance-oriented. More details will be revealed by the makers soon.

I come from a Commerce background. Neither that subject nor Interior Designing gave me satisfaction. Acting is my thing. My love for acting took roots when I was a child. I am not a trained actor.  When I was a child, my father used to bring DVDs home and those movies used to amaze me. 

Acting is a mix of performance and glamour with a bias towards the former. Glamour is integral to acting at times. My idea of glamour is that I have to look pretty on screen. I am not against glamourization. But it can't be equated with objectification. Gorgeous presentation of a woman is what I am comfortable with. How people see you matters a lot. A performance must add value to your career. 

I speak Tulu at home and Telugu is new to me. I had to watch a number of Telugu movies, both with and without subtitles, to get a grip on the language. I now understand the emotional beats behind the Telugu lines I speak.

Switching from modelling to acting hasn't been easy. In modelling, things are defined. When it comes to acting, you are expected to emote, to evoke emotions in the audience. You may have to give takes on repeat. In terms of work satisfaction, I prefer acting to modelling any day.

Both are equally important. Story is the main hero that holds everything together. Individual characterizations work only when the story has meat in it.

I am clued into the social media trend. Social media helps as a medium for individuals like me who have no film background. We get to put our latest pictures, reels and engage with our followers. 

I adore Mahesh Babu sir a great deal. It was his Telugu movies that introduced me to Tollywood as a movie buff.