Niharika Konidela, the Mega Princess of the illustrious Mega family, is debuting in Tollywood with Oka Manasu. The film stars young hero Naga Shourya as the male lead. Oka Manasu is all set for a June 24 release amidst a decent buzz, and we caught up with Niharika for a brief chitchat.
Q) Your debut film’s release is just five days away, are you nervous?
The nervousness is definitely there. We firmly believed in the story and did Oka Manasu. I am quite eager to see how the audiences will receive the film. I am confident that we will surely entertain the audiences.
Q) First time an actress from the Mega family is stepping into acting. When did you want to become an actress?
I have always been passionate about films since my childhood. Films motivated me to step into the TV world and later film production. The passion for acting grew stronger during my stint as a TV show host. The moment I had the confidence and felt that I was ready for acting, I expressed my desire to my family members.
Q) How did your family members react to your decision?
I grew up in a cine environment and I was well aware of what goes into being an actress. Even my father, Chiru Pedda Nanna, Kalyan Babai and everyone reminded me of the challenges in the cine field, but they all encouraged me to go ahead and pursue my dream, and here I am.
Q) How do you react to the initial hostility from Mega fans about your acting debut?
You should not call it hostility. Fans were rather apprehensive about acting being a glamorous profession. Mega fans treat Chiru Pedda Nanna, Pawan Babai and everyone as their own family members and expressed their concerns about my acting debut since they treat me as one among their family members. But when they came to know about my aspirations and career choices, they extended their full support.
Q) So, did you decide to not act in glamorous roles only due to fans’ pressure?
I have never been a fan of glamorous roles and never wanted to do them either. I am getting all the limelight now as I come with the Mega tag. But in order to gain my own individuality, I will have to prove my worth in performance oriented roles in the long run. Thankfully, I am making my debut with a challenging film like Oka Manasu.
Q) What should we expect from Oka Manasu?
It’s a matured love story. I personally feel that love stories like these are quite rare in the present days. The way the director weaved a beautiful film out of pure, heart touching emotions will be the major highlight of Oka Manasu.
Q) Throw some insights about your character in the film?
I had signed Oka Manasu the moment I heard my character in the story. You can imagine how strongly I bonded my character. I feel lucky to be making my debut with such a crucial role.
Q) How was it working with Naga Shaurya?
Naga Shaurya is a quiet man and doesn’t mingle with people quite freely. However, he becomes quite eloquent once he starts interacting with people. The majority of Oka Manasu’s story revolves around our two characters. The scenes featuring both of us have come out quite nicely.
Q) You belong to one of the reputed film families in Tollywood. How do you see yourself in the future?
All my family members have been supporting me throughout the making of my debut film. I only wish to make them feel proud of me by acting in more and more good movies.
