Actor Rukmini Vasanth.
| Photo Credit: RAVICHANDRAN N
Rukmini Vasanth, an articulate speaker, carefully brushes off my question about Toxic, starring KGF star, Yash. The pan-Indian actioner is set to be one of the biggest releases of 2026, and Rukmini describes the experience of working in the movie as a “continuous process of learning ”. The actor instead mentions Kantara: Chapter 1, saying she learns more about her craft when she looks back after the completion of a project.
Rukmini starred in a prominent role in Rishab Shetty’s directorial, India’s highest-grossing movie of the year, yet. In retrospect, playing Kanakavathi, the antagonist, was a great decision, says the actor. “I had great anxiety about playing a negative role,” she confesses.
“My mother and family convinced me that it’s an amazingly written role. I put a lot of pressure on myself by having this outdated notion of being typecast in my mind,” she says.
“Thankfully, after the film was released, I was astounded to see the positive responses. People spoke about my range. They realised that I could play an intense character like Putti (in Sapta Saagaradaache Ello films) and a complex one like Kanakavathi (in Kantara: Chapter 1). I realised that I was putting myself in a box, whereas the audience wanted me to surprise them,” she reasons.
Rukmini Vasanth and Rishab Shetty discuss during the filming of ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’.
| Photo Credit:
rukmini_vasanth/Instagram
She credits the well-planned rehearsal process from Rishab and his team for her performance. “I made a couple of trips to Kundapura to work with one of the writers for the movie, Anirudh Mahesh. Rishab sir was keen that I rehearse my portions before we went for the shoot. We worked on my body language. We all fall into a habit while working in a language we are familiar with. We go into autopilot mode. Sometimes, we need projects that shake that up. For a world as distinct as Kantara: Chapter 1, this kind of rehearsal process was invaluable for me.”
While Kannada comes naturally for the actor, Tamil is a language Rukmini is slowly picking up. Hence, her approach to her character in Madharaasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan and directed by AR Murugadoss, was different.
“I did a lot of work with the assistant directors, just to make sure that I was getting the dialogues right. Eventually, I didn’t dub for the movie, but I did a lot of work on the language so that my co-actors, especially Siva sir, could respond accurately in the scenes. At the end of the day, for each scene, it boils down to the conviction you display. The plot and the sequences might seem heightened, but you have to remain focussed on your scenes and the dynamic with your co-stars,” Rukmini explains.
Having worked with some of the biggest stars and technicians of Indian cinema (Shivarajkumar, Yash, Vijay Sethupathi, Rishab) in the first phase of her career, Rukmini still has many more filmmakers in her wishlist, going forward. The obvious name, as is for emerging actors, is Mani Ratnam.
Rukmini Vasanth as Kanakavathi pose for a candid moment on the sets of ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’.
| Photo Credit:
rukmini_vasanth/Instagram
“He (Ratnam) has always been at the top of my list. I have always felt aligned with his take on stories. I feel he has a very nuanced and sensitive approach to relationships. I get that sense when I hear him talk in interviews. The way relationships unfold in his movies, be it maternal or romantic, is very elegant. I am sure working with him will be life-changing for me,” she says.
The actor yearns to venture into unexplored territories in her career. “I want to work in a commercial movie that has a studio set dance number. The idea of it terrifies me, but I want to do it. Most of my songs have been montage songs. I want to do a fun, high-energy dance number.”
Published – November 18, 2025 05:43 pm IST
