Vaa Vaathiyaar actor Krithi Shetty: I am grateful for everything that I got and lost so far | EXCLUSIVE

Krithi Shetty, who rose to fame with Uppena, discusses her journey and upcoming film Vaa Vaathiyaar, as she emphasises the role of destiny, shares insights about growing up in front of camera and more

Krithi Shetty interview

Actor Krithi Shetty, who once dreamed of being an actor, soon had other plans for her career, only to return to face the camera for films in her late teenage years. Uppena is the film that made Krithi Shetty earn a spot on the map of South cinema. She then went on to star in a series of Telugu films before she could make a Tamil debut. Currently touring to promote her first Tamil film, Vaa Vaathiyaar, which is facing some release delays, Krithi says in a conversation with OTTplay that she believes in destiny and that what is meant to happen is bound to happen. “You can only work hard wherever you are placed. I believe in divine timing and God’s plan. Anything that happens, whether good or bad, is part of a bigger plan.”

“Even me being in films is something crazy, what are the odds, and so many things happened. It was dicey. After a couple of auditions, I was waiting for my father to pick me up. I also had to use the washroom and I knew a place where I used to audition. Someone saw me there, which took me to an ad shoot in Hyderabad and from there, I got my first film. It was luck by chance,” Krithi recalls while affirming her belief that what is meant to happen will happen.

Krithi Shetty interview:

Krithi started her career in front of the camera in her teenage years, as early as 11. Now, with acting as her full-time career, she explains what it is to grow up in the public eye and what it is to be an actor in this age and era, when there is no dearth of content. “Being an actor today has both pros and cons. I would like to look at the advantage, and that’s the accessibility. It wasn’t there for previous eras. We are on social media, and people know a lot more about me. It is also a great way to connect with the audience, and the love you receive through these fan edits and posts, I gain energy to move forward. Social media has cons, but the positivity outweighs these for me, and it keeps me going on social media as well,” she says.

Also read: Vaa Vaathiyaar movie 2025: Release date, plot, OTT partner; Everything you need to know about Karthi-Nalan Kumarasamy film

But as someone who grew up in front of cameras, the young actor mentions how it has taught her to be in the moment. “Sometimes we are disconnected from our present that we live in our thoughts, memories or what to happen in future. But when being in front of the camera, it is being present and creating something. So, facing the camera has taught me to live in the moment and see how the flow goes,” she explains.

On Vaa Vaathiyaar:

Taking up Vaa Vaathiyaar, in which Krithi plays the role of a spirit reader. Saying that she is always on a lookout for characters that require her to put more effort, Krithi says, “You wouldn’t believe if someone comes up to you and says they are a spirit reader. Not many would have had an experience. Similarly, I was also having second thoughts and whether it is real. It is a character that takes a little more conviction to develop, and for that I had to do a lot of homework.”

For those who are unaware, director Nalan Kumarasamy’s Vaa Vaathiyaar is a story that has the immense influence of veteran actor MG Ramachandran. The Karthi-starrer uses the imagery of MGR to drive its story, and Krithi says how the story is about fan-ism can become a devotion, ultimately also a guidance. “Cinema and actors have a big influence on us, and what that can do has always been interesting to me. Nalan sir has this quirky sense of humour, and I was looking forward to working with him. So, when the call came my way, I was excited to take it up.”

But it was not an easy journey for Vaa Vaathiyaar, which had faced its own delays. Krithi says, “As I said earlier, you can work only at the place you are. Whenever I get rejected, it is hard-hitting, but looking back, whatever I lost has only made me grow and become better. So, when something takes time, I only look that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is unfair if I am grateful only for the good things. I should be grateful for everything that I got and lost.”

Also read: Vaa Vaathiyaar OTT release: Karthi and Nalan Kumarasamy’s film locks digital streaming partner

On learning the language, comedy

Nalan is known for a certain brand of comedy that is satirical and wacky, and given Vaa Vaathiyaar is expected to be one like that, Krithi says she put in efforts to learn her lines. Given Tamil is not her first language, the actor says, “I try to understand the meaning of lines so that I can portray them perfectly. My director on the sets is my source of learning, and I also let them know to be honest in their feedback.”

Speaking about the comedy and improvisations, Krithi says it took time, but given that she believes that practice makes things perfect, it was the trust between her director and herself that helped her wade through filming. “My character has sassy comedy, but comedy has always been fun to perform. I have done in a couple of films,” she adds.

Having been part of various genres, from a love story in Uppena, a light-hearted film like Manamey, to the action-adventure Ajayante Randam Moshanam, and period drama Shyam Singha Roy, Krithi Shetty says that she is yet to do some thriller and action roles, and is looking forward to doing so. Talking about the roles she gets and how much women get to shine in these genres, Krithi says, “I think it is about how much the maker intends to give and what the character holds for a story. There are a lot of changes now, and at the same time, we cannot blame the industry as well. A lot of the filmmakers are men who draw experience from their lives and perspectives. They can work with what they have, and it’s fair enough. But as a woman, I would love to see more women in cinema, stories on and by them.”

Krithi has two more Tamil films in the pipeline, including Love Insurance Kompany and Genie. “In my career, I am very happy to be part of these films and they are special characters. It has been a good year. Given that all of them are fantasy, they are different. Vaa Vaathiyaar is mystical, LIK is futuristic, and Genie is magic realism. But all of them have a different world-building and magic of cinema, of course!,” she signs off.

Krithi Shetty FAQs

Q. What is the mother tongue of Krithi Shetty?

A. Krithi Shetty hails from a Tulu-speaking family and native of Mangalore.

Q. What is Krithi Shetty's next big project?

A. Krithi Shetty has Tamil films like LIK and Genie in Tamil.

Q. What is Krithi Shetty's Vaa Vaathiyaar release date?

A. Vaa Vaathiyaar will hit big screens on December 12.

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