Today, actors need to win over people addicted to 15-sec reels: Tamannaah Bhatia

Tamannaah Bhatia has worked on movies in several languages across the country. When asked about how her journey has been — from her first film till now — she says it’s all about making a choice and then sticking to it, no matter what. “I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I took one day at a time, working towards my dream. I did not over-emphasise any particular decision, but I made a very, very conscious choice of what I wanted to do and I stuck by that, regardless of the circumstances,” she tells Bangalore Times in an exclusive interview.
‘I did not know where my decisions would take me’
I did not plan the part beyond deciding that I wanted to be an actor.I had no idea where it would take me. Despite the uncertainty, I gave my dream a 100 per cent, and now I feel I pursued something enjoyable.
‘We are striving to grab people’s attention’
There was a time when it was only cinema. Then multiplexes came through. After that, OTT happened, with long-format in OTT trending now. Now literally, as creative people, our biggest competition is the 15-second videos online, because we are striving for people’s attention who are used to watching 15-second videos.
‘I do not think technology should be a cause of concern’
Times are changing and we should, too. Technology should not be a problem. It is the responsibility of every individual to make sure that they use it better, and not let technology use them. It’s made by us, so we should be able to control it. Having said that, the fear is about the younger kids who are born with this.

‘I am not worried about the format of the work, as long as it is impactful’
I am working on an untitled Tamil film, and a Telugu movie called Odela. At the same time, I am also doing an OTT show called Partners. So, the idea is to just focus on what that piece of content is that I am a part of. I’m not worried about the format. I’m just trying to see whether it has something new for me to do. Are people going to see a new and better version of me? Also, bonus points if it has some kind of emotional grounding, which tells a story.
‘I enjoy prepping for roles’
I have dubbed for my movies in Telugu, and I am yet to start in Tamil. Recently, for my role in Babli Bouncer, I had to train to get the Haryanvi accent right. So as actors, we train as and when the part demands it. I enjoy prep periods of everything, as it gives you an insight into what the character is. It’s the fun part of the process when you’re just kind of getting to understand what’s going on.
‘I get an insight into myself every time I perform’
My own journey of finding myself has been through the characters. I feel like every time I perform a certain character, it gives me a little bit of insight about myself, because as an actor, you’re making choices about how you’re going to perceive a character, and those choices are a very big reflection of who you are. So, when people say you know how different the actor is from the character, I don’t agree with it. You are choosing to make that character behave that way because that’s your perception. So, I choose to play characters that are more diverse, and more authentic.
‘I do not consider fame to be a disability’
I don’t think there is any downside to fame; it is actually very empowering. It’s all about the way you look at it. I think I’ve only felt more and more empowered because of being somebody who has some kind of influence. I would feel bad for myself if I thought fame was a disability of any kind. This industry and this work do make you give up on a certain kind of life, but then, any other thing I would do would have its own pros and cons.