I want to be a pan-India entertainer: Kiara

MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) actor Kiara Advani made her Tollywood debut with the political drama, Bharat Ane Nenu, co-starring Mahesh Babu. The film opened to a thunderous response at the box-office and has been universally liked by critics and fans alike.

An overwhelmed Kiara says, “I knew that it was a strong script and it was one of those films that the audiences were looking forward to, but to be unanimously loved was overwhelming. It was my first film and I didn’t anticipate the kind of love and acceptance that I have got. When I went back to just watch the film in Hyderabad, I wanted to go to a theatre to see the audiences’ reactions and the energy. I didn’t think anyone would notice me because it was my first film but things got out of control and the crowd just kept increasing and we were begged to leave from there. So I was banned from watching my own film (laughs).”

The actor, who has already signed her next Telugu film with another superstar Ram Charan, feels a new sense of responsibility. “It’s very new for me but I also have a certain responsibility and now, I have to deliver because people have put in so much faith. And that is scary. The most exciting part of working on this film was to be able to reach out to another part of the country and a wider audience. And that’s when I realised that I wanted to be a pan-India entertainer. Today, we are at a stage where people are watching cinema all over so it really doesn’t matter if it’s a French film or a Hindi film. The success of the film has been so reassuring. It’s exciting to be part of films that have a blend of good content with commercial value,” she says.

As for her Bollywood plans, Kiara will next be seen in Karan Johar’s short film anthology which will release on an online streaming platform. “This year has been a lot of firsts but it is so exciting because as an artist that’s what you want. You want people to be entertained and enjoy the films that are being made. To be accepted for doing that is a big deal. The short film is going to reach out to a larger audience” she says.

I knew that Bharat Ane Nenu was a strong script and audiences were looking forward to it, but to be unanimously loved was overwhelming. KIARA ADVANI, ACTOR