Acting was always in the back of my mind, but I never took it seriously: Avantika Sundar

I’m being offered interesting projects, but haven’t officially signed anything yet,” says Avantika Sundar, the daughter of actress Kushboo and director Sundar C. In her first-ever interview, she reveals that she is all set to turn actress and reflects on her ‘awkward teenager’ phase, nepotism, the advice her parents have given her, and more…
‘I’M AWARE OF MY PRIVILEGES; I’M NOT GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM THEM’
Talking about confiding in her mother when she decided to get into acting, Avantika shares, “When I told my mom about wanting to act, she was very supportive, but she told me that the industry can be harsh.” She is also well aware that people will bring up nepotism but says she won’t deny it. “I’m fully aware of my privileges; I’m not going to shy away from them. It’d be very wrong to deny nepotism,” she states.
She admits that comparisons with her mom are “inevitable”. “I’m prepared for the good and the bad, and intend to take them in stride because people are entitled to opinions. At the end of the day, it’s going to be my hard work and the roles I play that will make the audience decide whether they like me or not,” she says.
‘I NEVER TOOK ACTING SERIOUSLY UNTIL THE PANDEMIC’
Talking to us about the time she decided to get into acting, Avantika says, “Growing up, I didn’t think I was talented or good-looking to be in cinema. I used to see all the beautiful women in films and think, ‘I’m never going to match up to that, so why even try?’ When the pandemic happened, I was recovering from a broken foot, and it was during my recuperation that I thought about becoming an actress. I suppose it was always in the back of my mind, but I never took it seriously.”
‘I HAD TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF MYSELF TO BE AN ACTRESS'
She also lets us in on her insecurities growing up. She shares, “When you’re a kid, you’re easily influenced. As a teenager, I took the negativity more seriously than the positives. I was taller (5’11) than most girls of my age and was very insecure about my height. There were instances where I used to bend my knees while taking pictures to make myself look smaller; I don’t do that anymore.” As for her preparations to become an actress, she says, “I knew I had to take better care of myself to be an actress. So, I went to drama school to get over my selfconsciousness. I had a very bad lisp and I’ve tried to better myself in the way I speak. I also had to get over my shyness, and living alone in the UK played a huge part in that. I was in a completely different environment there, and it led me to adapt and socialise.”
‘I ADMIRE VIJAY SETHUPATHI’S RANGE; TAMANNAAH IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES’
Speaking about the people whom she admires, Avantika says, “I’m a big fan of Radhika Apte and Tamannaah. I love Vijay Sethupathi and admire his range, and I hope to have that versatility in my filmography. Another actor that I love is Raghav Juyal. He was amazing in Kill. There’s a whole list of people with whom I wish to collaborate, like Pushkar-Gayatri, Kiran Rao, Payal Kapadia, and SS Rajamouli.
‘I have never been pressured by my parents’
Speaking about her parents, who’ve made an indelible mark in the industry, the aspiring actress says, “A lot of the films my mom did came out before I was born. I remember watching Rum Bum Bum (Michael Madana Kama Rajan) and thinking, ‘She is great!’ I find dad’s films very entertaining and watch them as an audience. Whether it’s for my career or otherwise, my parents’ advice over the years has been to do my best. I’m blessed that I’ve never been pressured by them. I want to do the best I can, and I think everything else will follow.”
‘Initially, I used to get a little taken aback by trolling, but I think that’s a naive mindset’
Avantika, who says she has been subject to trolling on social media, says it doesn't bother her now. "A part of me has chosen to not broadcast my personal life on social media; for the longest time, my account was not public. Initially, I used to be taken aback by the trolling, but I think that's a naive mindset because I have now chosen to be in the public eye. The trolling in itself is not right, but unfortunately, it is going to happen. Because, whether you troll me or not, you're still talking about me," she states.