Nabha Natesh on Returning to Kannada Cinema: ‘I Have Always Wanted to Return to My Roots’

Kannada actor Nabha Natesh’s life has come full circle as she returns to Kannada cinema after nearly a decade with “Chemistry,” opposite Dhruva Sarja. In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, she opens up about her long hiatus, her upcoming films “Chemistry” and “Swayambhu” and the roles she hopes to explore in the future.

You made your Kannada debut with “Vajrakaya” and are now returning to the industry with “Chemistry,” opposite Dhruva Sarja. How does it feel to return to your roots?

It has been nearly a decade. In 2021, I met with a major accident after slipping on a concrete surface and fracturing my shoulder. I took a sabbatical for almost three years, but I emerged stronger. I grew up watching films by legends such as Dr Rajkumar, Shankar Nag, Anant Nag, Ambareesh and Vishnuvardhan. However, after my Kannada debut, “Vajrakaya,” my career took a different direction. I have always wanted to return to Kannada cinema and speak my mother tongue on screen. That is finally happening with “Chemistry,” a love story with Dhruva Sarja. I am returning to the genre after my Telugu debut, “Nannu Dochukunduvate” (2018). I get to explore a beautiful character that is also relevant to women today.

You play Sundaravalli in Swayambhu, a period film mounted on a grand scale. How did you prepare for the character, particularly in terms of her physicality and body language?

I have always been familiar with our history and mythology. I am also a trained classical dancer, so I didn’t have to prepare extensively for the role. Also, although “Swayambhu” is a period film, it belongs largely to the commercial space. The focus was on getting the aesthetics, body language and emotions right, and being fully present on set. Unlike “Nagabandham,” which belongs to a similar genre, “Swayambhu” has a lighter tone. I had a lot of fun playing the character.

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With regional film industries increasingly crossing linguistic boundaries, how has this shift changed the way female characters are written? Do you see more room for women to be portrayed in all their complexity?

There are many films today that tell stories from a female perspective, and I think that is a positive shift in the industry. Earlier, women’s experiences were often portrayed through a one-dimensional lens. With new-age storytelling, we are beginning to explore the many facets of a woman and portray her with greater depth. I think that is an encouraging change.

Is there a genre or role you are particularly keen to explore but haven’t been offered yet?

There is a long list of characters and emotions I want to explore. I am a theater artist, and my training has taught me to inhabit different emotional spaces. I also watch films across genres, so there is a lot I want to experiment with. I would love to do something dark or play a vulnerable, emotionally broken character. I am manifesting that for my next film. I am a huge admirer of Florence Pugh’s work. I loved her performances in “Midsommar” and “A Good Person.” I also watched the Korean horror film “Exhuma” and loved Kim Go-eun’s performance. I would love to explore either the horror genre or a role that allows me to portray someone emotionally fractured.