Interview: Vidhatri Bandi: “I’ve Wanted to Become an Actor Since I Was Six”!

Vidhatri Bandi is steadily carving a niche for herself in the Indian film industry with her natural screen presence and nuanced performances. Coming from a non-film background, she discovered her passion for acting at a very young age and later honed her craft at UCLA. She began her professional journey as an assistant director before pursuing acting full-time. She has been part of acclaimed projects such as Jalsa and Max, Min and Meowzaki, showcasing her versatility across diverse roles. Her journey from working behind the camera to becoming an actor reflects her determination, talent and willingness to constantly learn. In this exclusive conversation with CineBuster, Vidhatri Bandi opens up about her journey, acting process, experiences and the challenges of finding her place in the industry.

CineBuster: You come from a non-film background. Was there a specific moment when you realised that you wanted to become an actor?

Vidhatri Bandi: Honestly, I have wanted to become an actor since I was six. It all started when I watched Sridevi in Kshana Kshanam, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. I was completely mesmerised by her performance and told my father that I wanted to become an actor. He assumed it was just a phase that I would eventually grow out of, but I never did. I initially worked as an assistant director for a couple of years. That was when I began to understand the insider-outsider dynamics of the industry. However, it never affected me to the extent that I wanted to change my profession. I had always been certain that acting was what I wanted to pursue.

CineBuster: You chose to move to Los Angeles and study at UCLA rather than build your career in India. What prompted that decision?

Vidhatri Bandi: When I was working as an assistant director, I had the opportunity to work closely with actors and casting directors. While working on Kaalakaandi, I was involved with the workshop department, and that gave me an opportunity to perform. Mukesh Chhabra sir and Akshat Verma encouraged me tremendously and made me believe that acting was something I should seriously pursue.
Until then, I had a lot of insecurities and thought I might be better suited to working behind the camera. Chhabra sir even wrote a recommendation letter for my UCLA application. I realised that I needed professional training because, until then, my experience had largely consisted of workshops and auditions. I wanted to develop my confidence and acting skills further.
I had also heard a great deal about UCLA, particularly its theatre programme. I decided that if I was going to invest the time and money in studying acting, I wanted to attend one of the best institutions. It took me about four months to complete my application. I was the only Indian selected for the programme and also the youngest person in my class. The experience completely transformed me, both personally and professionally.

CineBuster: You also got an opportunity to perform for Jennifer Aniston. What was that experience like?

Vidhatri Bandi: It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. We hadn’t been told that Jennifer Aniston would be our special guest. When she walked in, I was completely stunned because I had grown up watching Friends. Seeing her in person was overwhelming.
To make matters more challenging, my professor asked me to perform first. I wasn’t prepared for the moment at all, so I took some time to compose myself before going on stage. Eventually, I performed in front of her. What made the experience particularly meaningful was that only a few months earlier, I had been questioning whether I was capable of becoming an actor. I had so many insecurities and wondered whether I was dreaming too big. Being selected from among around 45 students to perform for Jennifer gave me a tremendous sense of validation. It was the moment when I thought, “Maybe I really can do this.”

CineBuster: How do you work on your voice, posture and mannerisms when transitioning between different characters?

Vidhatri Bandi: I don’t really follow a fixed method. A lot depends on the director and the relationship I build with them. For Jalsa, for instance, I used a particular accent and voice. Suresh sir gave me a great deal of freedom and encouraged me to explore the character. During rehearsals, I would ask him whether I should add a particular mannerism or change my voice in a certain way, and he pushed me to experiment. I don’t enter a project with preconceived ideas or assume that I know everything. I approach every film as though it is my first and take time to understand the director’s vision and the environment on set. If the director gives me the freedom to experiment, I do so. If the director has a very specific vision, I respect that and work accordingly.

CineBuster: You had originally auditioned for Min. What drew you to Carol when you eventually auditioned for that role?

Vidhatri Bandi: When I auditioned for Min, I didn’t know much about Carol. I learnt about her only after I received the synopsis. What immediately attracted me was the way the director had written her character.
Carol is dealing with several struggles of her own, yet she manages to help Max find hope and see the light at the end of the tunnel. I found that extremely moving. The fact that someone could be battling so much personally and still give another person hope really touched me.
I remember thinking that I would love to play Carol. I didn’t even ask the team to audition me for the role; it was simply a thought I had. A couple of days later, I received a call saying that the director wanted me to audition for Carol. Thankfully, everything fell into place.

CineBuster: You have mentioned that you are allergic to cats. How did you manage to develop such natural chemistry with the cat on screen?

Vidhatri Bandi: It took some time for both of us to get comfortable with each other. Initially, I was constantly sneezing, so I imagine the cat must have wondered what was wrong with me! I also sought advice from a childhood friend who has three cats. He told me not to force a bond and simply give the cat its space and time. I followed that advice. Whenever I arrived on set, I would first observe her mood and let her approach me naturally rather than trying to force an interaction.
Eventually, the bond developed quite organically. I didn’t plan it; it just happened over time. And, of course, I was taking Allegra, which helped me manage the allergy!

CineBuster: What has been the most meaningful response you have received from the audience or your co-stars?

Vidhatri Bandi: One of the most memorable moments was receiving a call from Nasser sir after the premiere. We had met and interacted during the trailer launch and screening, but we hadn’t really discussed my performance. The following day, he called me and spoke at length about my work. That meant a lot to me because he has been part of more than 600 films and has dedicated his life to the profession. I have also looked up to him for a long time. I first met him when I was working as an assistant director on D2, and eventually getting to work with him as an actor felt like a full-circle moment. When he told me that I should come and work in the South and that he would speak to people about me, it was incredibly encouraging. Aadhav sir also consistently spoke about my performance whenever he introduced me to people. Receiving such appreciation from veteran actors gave me the validation I needed. Another memorable moment came on the premiere day, when several people specifically asked me about a particular scene and how I had performed it. That was actually one of the scenes I had been most nervous about. Their response made me feel that the effort had paid off.

Team CineBuster