The actor who is a Miss India finalist is all gung-ho about her debut film Chekka Chivantha Vaanam

Acting and films were never on the to-do list of Dayana Erappa. But, when the team of Madras Talkies called and told her that she had been chosen to play one of the lead roles in Mani Ratnam’s next film, she was confused, excited and nervous in equal measure.

Looking at the trailer of Chekka Chivantha Vaanam now, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the girl Chaaya.

“I just entered modelling to give it a shot. Later, I took part in the Miss India beauty pageant and was judged the runner up. I was busy with my projects when I received a call from Mani Ratnam’s team. I went to give my first audition in Mumbai and the second one in Chennai. They called me after two months and said that I had gotten it,” says Dayana.

Born and brought up in Coorg, Dayana’s father owns a tea estate and her mother is a homemaker. She also has an elder sister who has completed her Masters in Criminology.

“My parents have always supported me and my sister. When I told my father that I was going to be part of a modelling project, he asked me whether I was sure? Since it was something I was trying out, he was okay with my decision.

Later, when I told him that I’m going to be part of Chekka…, he was like ‘Wow! Really?’All of them were happy with the news,” adds the model.

For a newbie to get a big launch with director Mani Ratnam is a dream come true. “Acting was not my priority at all. I was just a theatre artiste, I feel lucky that people think that apart from good looks, I can also act. I didn’t want to lose the chance. Especially, when it was a Mani Ratnam directorial,” she says.

Chekka Chivantha Vaanam is a Tamil film which is being dubbed in Telugu as Nawab. The trailer unveiled recently has garnered a huge number of views on YouTube.

Dayana feels very happy to have worked in a star-studded film which has Prakash Raj, Jayasudha, Arvind Swami, Jyothika, Arun Vijay, Aishwarya Rajesh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Silambarasan and others in lead roles. The DOP of the film is Santosh Sivan and music is composed by AR Rahman.

“Working with so many stars was an amazing experience. They never treated me like a newcomer, but have given me all the support to do my best,” said the Tamil ponnu who is yet to sign her next project after Chekka Chivantha Vaanam.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Tabloid> Cinema & TV / by Bhawana Tanmayi / September 02nd, 2018