It’s never too late for making a comeback: Akshata Prabhu

After a decade of leaving behind a flourishing career in modelling and the glamour industry, Akshata Prabhu made a comeback. She won an international title, which led to what she once aspired to as a teen — becoming an actor.

“I have been into modelling for a good six-seven years, worked with a few leading brands, played the lead in the Marathi film

I was getting good offers, but I had to let go of the project due to negative experiences in the past. AKSHATA PRABHU, Model-actor

Paathavni (2008) and featured in a chartbuster remix music video, Do Ghoont Mujhe Bhi Pila De (2004). But I gave up my career after facing issues like casting couch and many asking for undue favours,” says Prabhu, who is also a paediatric dental surgeon. She recalls, “I was getting good offers and had auditioned for a project starring a big actor, but I had to let go of the project due to negative experiences in the past. Then I started to look into another career option, following which I cracked a medical exam and became a dentist. Now I am married and have a school going daughter, and I decided to make a comeback!”

Prabhu became first runnerup in Mrs India World (2019) and went on to win Ms International World (2021) in Florida, USA.

“My husband (also a dental surgeon) and I gave up our medical professions and zeroed in on establishing our own production house to provide a platform for us as well as others. I* was ready to go an extra mile to achieve something for me. One thing led to another. I never thought how it would happen, but I had passion and faith that one can always make a comeback, it’s never too late!”

Prabhu went on to start her own pageant where teenagers, young girls and married women compete on a same platform irrespective of their age, weight, size, height and complexion. She adds, “Our short film, The Rising Queens, will be screened at the New York Film Festival in October. We shot it with five real participant-actors. Besides, we have shot a four-episode web series capturing the journey of individuals from all over the country who aspire to be a pageant queen, an actor, or become a public figure. I feature in both as an actor, narrator, screenplay writer and visualiser.”

Prabhu will be doing an international web series as well: “It’s based on the book The Italians, where I play UN ambassador Indira Gupta.”