From dreaming to being, Premika Sekhar is a promising new star on the block. Emerging from a traditional household to carve her path into the glittering worlds of modelling and cinema, the fan favourite actress says her life today is nothing short of a dream realised. After a good stint with modelling for popular clothes and jewellery brands, she made her acting debut as Sindhu in the popular Tamil Medical Drama, Heart Beat. In conversation with Provoke, Premika reminisces on her journey toward stardom.

Was modelling a considered career choice, or did it find you by chance? What was your entry into modelling like?
I would say it’s a bit of both. I hail from a very small town that is deeply rooted in temple cultures, grandly ceremonious and quite illiberal due to the lack of exposure to opportunities in fields like cinema or fashion. Growing up in such an atmosphere I never thought of pursuing it as career, nonetheless, I was definitely curious as to what went behind the making of advertisements, huge posters and the likes. I wondered how the models on the billboards I passed by daily got there. That curiosity turned into a quiet experiment when I arrived in Chennai after my graduation. I dug into the process of modelling, and found genuine interest in it and so I did what anyone else with a passion would do, I pursued it. Fortunately for me it clicked immediately and my first opportunity was with a brand I have great reverence toward. I was on this huge hoarding for the same brand that I grew up being fascinated with. So that’s how I found my way into the fashion industry.

How did your family take your decision to pursue modelling and eventually your step into cinema?
My parents were very particular that I have a degree. I was told to prioritise my education over everything else, and to keep up to that expectation was fairly easy because I’ve been a good student throughout my years of education. My mom raised me to be independent and secure. However, like any average Indian parent, they were extremely sceptical and displeased with my decision to model. That’s when I understood that you can conquer the world if you want but before all else, you must overcome your parents’ disappointment. So, I promised to them that I will put my degree to good use, keep my job and that I won’t let them down whilst managing my career as a model too. Then they seemed a little at ease letting me do this.

We’ve seen you mention that you were a corporate employee as well. How did you juggle between your office and your career as an actor and model?
Corporate worlds have a timely manner. They have organised structures and so on. Artistic endeavours on the other hand are chaotic, and leave you in constant ambiguity. So in between erratic schedules, to manage work was extremely difficult. But I have had the good fortune to find colleagues and friends who were very supportive at my office. It was a struggle but it comes to us innately to hold onto what we love, right? So that’s about it.

You have modelled for various brands. What brought the sudden shift into acting?
My step into cinema is a tale to tell. Once I got the opportunity to visit a movie set where they were actively shooting a film. During my time there I witnessed the lead actress, Sai Pallavi work into her character snap out of it and get back at it when she was asked to. Watching her like that really stirred up a whim of thoughts in me. It felt like the child in me that grew up obsessed with Tamil and Hindi cinema found her spark again. It became the moment I decided this was it. I knew I needed to see myself there and so I decided acting will be a part of my pursuits.

How was your experience working on Heart Beat? Given that it’s your first role as an actor, what made you choose your role as Sindhu?
Heart beat was miraculous for me. Firstly, it was astonishing to get a role like that so readily. I remember being intrigued having my co-actors sit alongside me whilst a film camera was filming what I assumed was my audition for the role. It wasn’t until the director said “Shot okay, you will be playing Sindhu here on” that I realised that it wasn’t a normal audition per say. And needless to say, I loved the character, a mind of her own but adorable and convincing despite having some questionable ideas. I felt like I was playing the most organic portrayal of today’s young women. Beyond that to be around such revered and talented actors brings along a sense of great responsibility that duly keeps you going. I worked very hard to match their magnitudes in performance and I think I have done that quite well. To start of my acting career with such a venerated or rather admired show brings me great joy and I am extremely grateful for all of it.

Will we be seeing you on the big screen anytime soon? What does the road ahead look like for you?
Cinema is my calling. Like I’ve said, I absolutely love films, their making and everything that is encompassed in a movie. So, I do aspire to be there one day. My dream is to be a part of a some really soulful, beautiful movies. The kind of movies Mani Ratnam sir makes, and the kind of movies Aishwarya Rai has been a part of. I believe that destiny brought me this far that life already has its own plan for me. Whatever the future has in store, I just really hope I keep getting to do what I love the most, that I keep getting to act.