My Lord actor Chaithra J Achar: I make sure whatever scenes I play onscreen don’t affect me in real life | EXCLUSIVE

Kannada actor Chaithra J Achar opens up about learning Tamil for My Lord, Raju Murugan’s faith in her, and playing a rooted, strong character in the political satire

Chaithra J Achar

Kannada actor Chaithra J Achar will be just two-film old in Tamil, if you count her upcoming release My Lord starring Sasikumar, directed by Raju Murugan. But the actor is already fluent in the language, as she speaks like a local, with no borrowed accents.

As Chaithra joins in for a conversation with OTTplay, she recalls, “When I started My Lord, I had no clue of speaking in Tamil. I understood Tamil very well, but I never to get to speak like I do now. Raju Murugan sir had watched Toby and wanted to cast me in My Lord. He even came to Bengaluru to narrate the story. Back then, I did not know who he was, and I also did not have any dates. Without knowing the language, I was also hesitant to take up. But Raju sir was persistent, and followed up with me. I googled about him, and realised that he is a very big director in Tamil. I decided that irrespective I am doing the film or not, I must meet him while he was in Bengaluru.”

What did Chaithra J Achar say about My Lord?

Chaithra gets candid when she says how Raju Murugan spoke textbook Tamil that she could not comprehend. “I used to ask him many doubts for clarity, and he was very patient in explaining. He was very clear that I do the project and was even ready to work around for my dates. So, when everything fell into place, and I joined the sets, Raju Murugan sir gave standing orders that everyone on the sets speak only in Tamil to me,” she adds. The actor credits the team of My Lord, who corrected her Tamil instead of mocking her.

Even as the 2025 film 3BHK was her first Tamil release, Chaithra began shooting for My Lord first. At many instances, Raju Murugan has said how she is an indispensable element of the film. “I have heard Raju sir this to many people. There was some confidence he had on me that I did not have it on myself. I said I don’t know Tamil and there is more to perform in this film. But when he boosted so much confidence in me, I thought why not take up the challenge. Every film is a challenge, and let me take this a little earlier. He even stood with me and fought to have me onboard,” Chaithra mentions.

What is her role in My Lord?

In My Lord, Chaithra plays Susila, and if she was to introduce her to others, the actor describes, “She is a very normal girl from Kovilpatti. There is nobody for her, until Muthusipi (Sasikumar) comes into her life. She is strong, but innocent. It is very hard to normal characters where you have to make people believe that you are one among them. To play Susila, a normal working woman who then gets a family of her own, and has struggles to meet, and of course, there is politics involved, was refreshing and very important project in my life.”

Also read:My Lord movie 2026: Release date, plot, cast, runtime; Everything you need to know about Sasikumar-Chaithra Achar’s drama

This is not the first time Chaithra is playing a character that comes from the fringes of society. Be it a girl with cerebral palsy in Gilky, a sex worker in Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side B, or even a troubled girl from dysfunctional family in 3BHK, Chaithra’s roles have been a deviation from the ‘normal’ that society would consider. Does the baggage of her roles affect her? She answers, “When I did Side B, I spoke with a lot of working sex workers and speaking with them, I was troubled by what they had to say and how their lives are totally different from what we know. Every woman has their own stuff to do and going through something, their situations are different. Even after the film release, I carry that information which bothers me sometimes. But it also helps me to become a better human being. I genuinely believe that my perspective about people and how I react to situations, are getting better. It makes me empathetic and want me play more flawed characters. At the same time, I make sure whatever scenes I play, they don’t get carried to my real-life. I actually don’t remember most of the portions I shoot for.”

Even as Chaithra plays some dark, and heavy roles that are not so rose-tinted onscreen, she is more lively, fun-loving, and humour sense. “Somehow, those subjects don’t interest me onscreen or I think I can play it later, and that is how I end up getting roles which are heavy. But having said that, I would like to do out-and-out comedy film sometime. With women, they haven’t explored it enough but I hope it happens it one day.”

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What are Chaithra’s beliefs when picking characters?

Chaithra believes that one’s work should either give the pleasure of playing interesting roles, or pay enough. She goes on to say that even when her screen space is less, she looks at how they are placed in a story. “Like in 3BHK, my screen time was very less compared to what I have done so far. But the story was nice, the cast was good. So, my part was only to do what I do what I got well. People will see what they have to see. No matter big or small the role is, people will notice if I do a good job. Even if my character is dying in the first 5 minutes, I want the impact to be throughout. They should remember me. If the character is amazing but the story is not convincing enough, I still wouldn’t do it,” she adds.

My Lord, Chaithra describes it as a ‘total package’ and still a mix of laughter and food for thought. “Even if you are dying, you wouldn’t stop laughing or enjoy your favourite food. Just like that, My Lord is about how even as the system is corrupted, you continue to navigate life with all fun factors and deal with matters going around. There is a beautiful love story, action, drama, and some message to people that you cannot let go and that democracy always be on upper hand. It is a nicely packed political satire that way,” Chaithra says.

Coming from Kannada industry, which is seeing a boom in the pan-Indian era with hits like KGF and Kantara franchises, and SSE duology, Chaithra talks about pan-Indian phenomenon, “It is fun and amazing to get into a system that it is sure shot opener. I somehow believe that it is not my job to worry about that too much. It is for the production who must worry about the positioning, casting and putting together. But as actor, either it is pan-Indian, or rooted film, it is irrespective and only about the craft. No one knew that Kantara or SSE would become a big phenomenon beyond Karnataka. But as actors, we should not be worrying about it, and I don’t think no actor would differentiate in their acting style for a small and big film.”

Also, in the era of social media, Chaithra makes sure that she uses social media to her choices and is as organic and real as possible. “I have people around me who call me out when I put out something that isn’t me. I don’t want to go that side and make sure I don’t post or say things that I don’t believe in. I don’t take the pressure of social media and cut it off from my head,” the actor says.

Up next, Chaithra reveals that she has some interesting projects lined up, including her Kannada film Maarnami slated for February 20 release, along with some more exciting titles are yet to be announced.

Chaithra Achar FAQs

Q. Which movie is Chaithra J Achar and Sasikumar in?

A. My Lord, the upcoming Tamil film features Chaithra J Achar and Sasikumar.

Q. What is Chaithra J. Achar known for?

A. Chaithra J Achar is a prominent actor from south Indian film industry, known for her roles in Toby, and Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side B.

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