For the previous decade, Rachita has reigned as one among Kannada cinema’s main girls, that includes alongside stars resembling Darshan in Bulbul (2013), Sudeep in Ranna(2015),Puneeth Rajkumar in Chakravyuha (2016), Upendra in I Love You (2019), and Shivarajkumar in Rustum (2019). Yet, even earlier than her movie debut, she hinted at her aptitude for crafty roles together with her tv breakthrough in Arasi.
After years of being a second fiddle to the hero with glamour and appeal, Rachita’s need to discover a personality with gray shades grew to become actuality when filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj approached her for Coolie, his maiden undertaking with Rajinikanth. “When Lokesh requested me what sort of a job I fancied, I informed him I wish to play somebody like Neelambari,” she tells The Hindu in an unique chat.
“Lokesh was a bit stunned with my alternative, contemplating I’m identified for my feminine lead characters in Kannada. Being an antagonist offers you lots of room to carry out. It’s the form of problem I might like to take up extra typically,” she provides.
Rachita is among the greatest shock elements in Coolie, which hit the screens on August 14, 2025. In a star-studded forged involving Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, Shoubin Shahir, and Aamir Khan, not many anticipated Rachita to shine, extra so as a result of she had a blink-and-you-miss look within the film’s trailer. The makers additionally stayed away from introducing her character through the promotional section.
“Lokesh was explicit that my character wasn’t mentioned wherever pre-release, as a result of he was certain my position would make a big impact after the discharge,” reveals Rachita.
Lokesh’s intuition was confirmed proper when Rachita’s efficiency gained reward. She admits to being overwhelmed by the response from individuals who weren’t aware of her work. Her greatest praise got here from the famous person himself, one thing she needed to stay tight-lipped about till the movie was out.
“It’s been a 12 months since I acquired that cellphone name from Rajini sir. I had returned from a capturing schedule in Bangkok when he referred to as to say I had achieved a superb job. He mentioned it was nice to see a Kannadada hudgi (Kannada lady)carry out so nicely. I informed him his phrases have been greater than Oscars for me. For one 12 months, it was so powerful to not inform the world about this.”
Rachita cherished how she was made to really feel comfy by Rajinikanth and Lokesh from the primary day of her shoot. “I had a small chat with Rajini sir after the shoot. He was curious concerning the developments within the Kannada movie business. He recollected a few of his works in Kannada cinema. He assured me that my character in Coolie would have a big impact on the viewers.”
Rachita Ram has starred reverse A-listers resembling Darshan, Sudeep, Puneeth Rajkumar and Shivarajkumar in Kannada. | Photo Credit: @rachita_instaofficial/Instagram
As an actor, Rachita believes in spontaneity on units. “I didn’t put together a lot earlier than my scenes in Coolie. Lokesh wasn’t explicit about rehearsals both. He was very particular concerning the all-important transformation of my character. To ace that swap in character, he informed me to understand that I’m a educated police officer. I had to make sure I exhibit the character trait of a educated officer, particularly within the motion sequence,” she explains.
The first approval of her efforts got here from the forged and crew on units, remembers Rachita. “Anbariv masters have been proud of how I pulled off the motion scene. This was my first-ever motion sequence. I used to get petrified when actors carried out stunts in my films. Also, once I revealed the large shock within the tense scene, folks on the set applauded. I acquired the identical form of applause in a vital scene with Nagarjuna sir,” she says.
Rachita’s efficiency in Coolie might open the door for extra non-Kannada alternatives for the actor. This dream Tamil debut wouldn’t have occurred if not for her probability assembly with Lokesh at an awards ceremony. “I informed him to provide me a script with a powerful feminine protagonist. After seeing his Agent Tina character in Vikram (2022), I wished to get a Kannada movie made on a script by Lokesh.
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“He cherished my confidence. I used to be determined to do a job with villainous shades. In Kannada, filmmakers have been hesitant to suppose past the normal heroine position. They would all the time inform me, ‘How can a lady with a cute and chubby face petrify folks?’ Thankfully, Lokesh believed in seeing me otherwise on display.
With Coolie, Rachita feels she has answered her detractors. “In latest occasions, I noticed a number of feedback on social media that they have been bored with seeing me. They felt it was time for me to get married and retire from performing. I’m glad to have answered them by way of my work,” she says.
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