“This is a golden age to make a place for yourself”- Avantika Vandanapu

The pandemic has brought some major changes to the world. How have you adapted to it and how have the last 2 years been for you? 

I definitely didn’t imagine it would last this long! In terms of acting and the entertainment industry, a lot of it has become so that you can work from home. As an actor, your job centers around auditions and meetings which can now be done from home, although I prefer auditioning in person. Being an only child, I’ve adapted to entertaining myself and being comfortable with alone time, so quarantine didn’t feel very different… I’ve also been able to work on some hobbies like reading and cooking, as I’ve plenty of time for them now.

You’re a dancer, singer and actress with so many other skills and commitments. So, how do you manage your time efficiently and keep up with all these activities?

It’s a lot easier than most people think – everyone is actually dealing with a lot on their plates, even if their activities are not well defined. It’s quite similar to how an average person has to juggle school with any part-time job. In America, I’ve seen many teenagers have a day job, it’s equally difficult for them too! In terms of time-management, it’s juggling between auditioning and classes, and you have the rest of the day for academics, singing and dancing. And you live your life!

We absolutely enjoyed the portrayal of Rhea in Spin, so as an actress, how is it that you are able to get into the shoes of this character written on paper and construct her so eloquently?

So, I’ve been familiar with her character for a really long time as I first auditioned for Rhea’s part when I was 10. The project went on hold and came back 3 years later. I’ve always had the script in the back of my mind as it is a big deal being the first South-Asian lead Disney movie! The most difficult aspect of her character, as seen in the film, is her deejaying. It is a new and a niche skill which I don’t think many are familiar with. We all sing and dance but deejaying is a small world. I always had the perception that deejaying is easy because of the relaxed and chill persona of the people who do it. But it is so hard! I still can’t do it well! Luckily, the music producers understood and helped me learn this in the course of 2 months.

Rhea from Spin was a likeable and realistic role model the viewers could resonate with. We felt her to be diligent, observant and kind-hearted. So which quality of Rhea’s was your personal favourite?

It’s her tenacity; she does a lot of things and does them really well. That takes a lot of diligence and perseverance! Rhea always finishes what she starts, even if she has a whole lot of other responsiblities. She lives up to her personal, career and family comittments, and I find this to be very inspiring!

You are a person who stays true to her native roots by acting even in the Telugu film industry. In your opinion, what is the difference between working in Tollywood vs Hollywood?

Yeah, there’s a lot of differences especially for a young girl. Just because there are a lot of laws and legal institutions in place in Hollywood, you are so much safer there. Like, your work ethic is protected and you can study on set. Maybe you won’t be able to do a hundred percent, but you can still do eighty to ninety percent of schoolwork. You only have to work a certain number of hours and you’re always provided food on set with a rigid lunch break. I think that’s really great as you never feel overworked and protected.
When it comes to Tollywood, I feel a familiarity with it personally as I was raised in a Telugu household. It is full of music, dancing, and colour, which you probably won’t find in a Hollywood set! But sadly, there are no laws in place to protect the entertainment industry. As a 10-year-old child, I would wake up at 6 am and work till 2 am the next day! The idea of school can just be trashed. Sometimes, not even lunch breaks. It was really difficult and exhausting. You can’t tell a kid that they’re going to be eating lunch when a couple of adults feel tired. I hope that area improves as it is a very beautiful industry with some amazing movies and I hate for it to be so difficult to work on sets.

After the massive success of Spin, we are confident that Senior Year will be outstanding! Can you tell us about the film and working with esteemed actor Rebel Wilson?

Senior year was great! Spin is a Disney movie, so to do something like Senior Year (a Netflix movie) that greatly contrasts the latter industry, right after, was a totally different experience for me as an actor! I find Rebel Wilson to be an incredible woman; she has rigid self discipline and I personally think she’s one of the best actresses I’ve ever worked with. Even with such massive success in America, she has maintained great humility. Rebel Wilson stood up for me, and always made sure everyone felt comfortable on set. She has even taken us out for dinner! It was truly a blessing to work with her!

What would you like to say to the future actors/producers/directors?

In this day and age, I think there’s a space for everybody including aspiring actors, musicians, directors etc. Both the Indian and American industries are expanding vastly and are welcoming different cultures and ideas; we are seeing quality content due to streaming platforms and partly because of covid. This is an encouragement to pursue your interest and craft. I think the times are going to get even better and more opportunities are opening up. Right now, if you don’t see a space for you, it is the best time to create a space for yourself. It isn’t the time to be discouraged in the pandemic, this is a golden age to make a place for yourself!

…and no, it doesn’t snow where she lives.

Thank you for doing this interview! It was a pleasure talking to you and getting to delve deeper into the movie industry!

Written by Maitreyi & Nithika
Co-Heads of Insights