Anusha Ranganath signed on as the lead for Vinay Rajkumar’s next

The makers of Vinay Rajkumar’s next have finally found their leading lady. The team revealed that Anusha Ranganath, who is actor Ashika Ranganath’s sister, has been signed on opposite Vinay. While the team is all set to begin shoot for this film this week, Anusha says she will join the team by mid-September. Here’re excerpts from our chat with the actress:
A film opposite Vinay, how did that come about for you?
I auditioned for this role, like any other contender. I was given a quick narration, after which my audition was to see how I could help pan out a particular scene. But what happened after that had me perplexed for quite a while. On the one hand, the makers told me that I would have to alter my then colour-treated hair to fit into the role, on the other, there was no official confirmation on whether I had got the role. Further confusion occurred when the producer told me my audition was all bad, this, right after I had had a conversation with the director, who confirmed that I had in fact bagged the role. Turned out that I was just being

pranked

. Now, Vinay and I have already rehearsed for some four crucial scenes to help us prepare for the shoot that is beginning shortly.
What’s interesting about this character that you play in this film?
I play a bank employee named Shruthi. She is a strong and mature woman who is a big source of support to the character played by Vinay. Interestingly, this is a first for me, as I have played the quintessential glamourous and stylish girl before.

Your previous onscreen performances received good reviews, but they did not fare as well at the box office. At this stage, how important is it to be commercially successful?
While people had told me that I had done well in previous roles, I am aware that I am not yet a popular name. I still need to work on becoming a commercial success. I have become choosy about what I take up, right from picking which audition I want to go for too — as I decided to work with only reputed and recognised production houses. Before I went in to audition for this film, I remember I had informed only Ashika about it. I informed the rest of my family only after I got the role.

Do you and Ashika discuss cinema at home?
Yes, everyday! The two of us constantly speak to each other about movies — given that we are both in the same profession. Our conversations are almost always about films, various characters we may have seen in films. We also always talk to each other before taking up a new project.