The tables turn as a former entertainment journalist finds herself on the other side of the camera.

Before Swathishta Krishnan began answering questions about her films, she was the one asking them.

While pursuing her master’s in journalism in Chennai, she interviewed entertainment personalities for newspapers and magazines. Directors began approaching her during these assignments, but college came first. “I was quite sceptical because I had to finish my studies,” she recalls.

Alongside journalism, she was modelling, appearing in advertisements and television commercials before gradually moving into films. Having grown up interested in dance and fine arts, performing was familiar territory, even if acting had not been her original career plan.

Her breakthrough with Kamal Haasan’s Vikram brought recognition across languages, alongside offers for similar characters.

“When you establish yourself in one particular kind of character, you automatically start getting similar roles,” she explains.

It’s a familiar dilemma: the role that gets an actor noticed can also shape what comes next.

A Changing Script

Kannada cinema offered new possibilities. Her debut, Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe, was a family drama whose lively ensemble made her feel at home.

The film involved around 40 to 50 days of shooting, with her character appearing throughout the story. Working alongside an ensemble of 20 to 30 artists on many days made the experience particularly memorable.

“Your first experience anywhere is very important, and because of that experience, I really started enjoying the Kannada industry and the Kannada fraternity,” she says.

Her next film, Rakkasapuradhol, offered a smaller role, but the thriller’s genre and collaborators, including Raj B Shetty, appealed to her.

She sees such choices as part of cinema’s changing landscape.

“Five or ten years ago, the pattern was different. In every film, there would be five songs, and people would go to foreign locations to shoot duets,” she observes.

As thrillers and more grounded stories find an audience, she looks forward to exploring a variety of characters and cinematic experiences.

“You need to have a mixed bag. You have to work, explore different things and be versatile,” she says.

Choosing What Comes Next

For Swathishta, the length of a role is only one consideration. The writing, genre, collaborators and opportunities a project offers can be equally important.

She believes audiences increasingly connect with stories that feel realistic, and that actors must adapt to the kinds of films being made today.

Her approach to choosing characters is also shaped by the stage of her career. While she has received offers involving negative or morally ambiguous roles, she currently prefers characters audiences can connect with positively.

“I think today, whether it is an actor or actress, if we are able to connect with the audience, that matters,” she shares.

Preparation is another priority. Regardless of the industry, she prefers receiving her lines in advance and arriving on set knowing what the day’s work involves.

“All I want is that the director who cast me should never regret casting me,” she explains.

Life Between the Lines

Swathishta is enjoying the roles coming her way in Kannada cinema and looks forward to portraying more relatable characters. “The first thing I look at is how the audience will receive the character,” she explains.

In Atikaya, an action-heavy film shot across Bengaluru, she plays a light-hearted character. She particularly enjoys filming in real locations.

“When there is no set and you are shooting on a street with real crowds around you, it actually feels very real,” she shares.

The shoot involved long working hours and a tight schedule, but she appreciates the atmosphere of real locations, where the surroundings can help actors connect more naturally with their characters.

Off-screen, the self-described homebird enjoys journaling, meditation, cooking and returning to dance classes. A rainy college trip to Matheran remains a favourite memory, while travel is gradually finding space in her plans.

Her mornings often begin with journaling, chanting, yoga and exercise. She has also started preparing healthy meals herself, experimenting with recipes and recording cooking videos.

Dance, an interest dating back to childhood, has returned to her routine too. After learning Bharatanatyam when she was younger, she has joined classical dance classes again to develop the skill through regular practice.

BENGALURU BETWEEN TAKES

Swathishta’s favourite stops in the Garden City.

• Breakfast Fix: Benne masala dosa and filter coffee at Airlines Hotel.
• Shopping Trail: Commercial Street and Jayanagar.
• Her Kind of Escape: Peaceful temples and quiet spaces.
• The Perfect Plan: Peaceful retreats with structured routines, nature, oil massages, therapies and plenty of solitude.

Beyond the Familiar

Although Swathishta describes herself as someone who prefers staying home and following an organised routine, she is gradually making room for travel.

Her memorable college trip to Matheran, with its rain, trekking and time spent with friends, remains a reminder of how enjoyable an unexpected break can be.

Looking ahead, she hopes to explore Uttarakhand, the Himalayas, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Darjeeling, along with Australia and Vietnam.

Professionally, her attention remains on Atikaya, an upcoming Tamil web series and finding meaningful roles across industries.