Shining On!

HER TRYST WITH CINEMA BEGAN WHEN SHE WAS JUST A TODDLER. THE CHILD ARTIST PERFECTED HER CRAFT AS SHE SPRINTED ACROSS MOLLYWOOD AND KOLLYWOOD SETS, WINNING HEARTS WITH HER SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCES. SHE CARVED HER OWN NICHE THROUGH FILMS LIKE KADHA THUDARUNNU, BHASKAR THE RASCAL, YENNAI ARINDHAAL, VISWASAM, SHORT FILMS LIKE MAA’ AND THE POPULAR WEBSERIES QUEEN’ WHERE SHE PLAYED THE ROLE OF SHAKTHI’, THE YOUNGER VERSION OF JAYALALITHAA’. AS THE YOUNG STARLET MARKS HER DEBUT AS THE LEAD ACTRESS IN MALAYALAM AND TELUGU, RIYA SONNY DATSON CATCHES UP WITH ANIKHA SURENDRAN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE STORY!

How does it feel to be doing your first lead role in Telugu? Tell us about your experience.

It feels amazing, it’s a mixed bag of tension and excitement. There is pressure as it is the first time that I am doing a full-fledged lead role in a film. All I can say about Butta Bumma’ is that it has drawn inspiration from the Mollywood film Kappela’ and it is expected to hit screens by January 2023. It was an interesting experience as I was clueless about the language initially. Though it seemed hard at first, the direction team really helped me pull through it and it all fell into place eventually.

You have worked with most of the top stars like Mammootty, Mamtha Mohandas, Ajith and Nayanthara to name a few. What’s your biggest learning from them?

They are all at the top of their game and yet they have this constant urge to do more. One would think they would take a backseat after a point but they don’t. They are never willing to settle and that’s such an inspiration for youngsters like me.

You had a head start when it comes to acting since you started so young. But does that also add to the pressure?

Yes, people sometimes do tell me that it is obvious that I am going to become a heroine and that it would come easily as I started early. They mean well and I honestly aspire to become a successful actor but I am also aware that it’s not as easy as it seems. So I take it in my stride and take one day at a time.

How do you handle the pressures of competition and an unpredictable career?