Hello everyone. This week’s #BlabwithSandy features Preetika Rao. Preetika is an accomplished actress with numerous other accolades. Her latest exploration as a podcaster has made waves on social media. Let’s go right into the amazing blab I had with her.🙂
Sandy: Hello Preetika, hope you are doing as lovely as you are?
Preetika: Thank you so much for the warmth! I’m doing very well Sandeep! Grace of God ! Thank you!
Sandy: Could you throw some light about your early background?
Preetika: I was born in Mangalore and raised in Mumbai. I majored in History from the Mumbai University and then pursued my diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the New York Film Academy. My childhood was filled with music, creativity, and a lot of spiritual influence especially from relatives who were deeply rooted into different spiritual paths and this helped me in my own Spiritual journey which has now found it’s expression in my spiritual podcasts!
Sandy: When and how did the modelling/acting bug hit you?
Preetika: I think in childhood when I found myself writing my own scripts and enacting them in front of the mirror since I was 5 ! My family was not really connected to the film industry although intuitively somewhere I always knew I will be an actor some day…!
My sister started modelling in college in TV commercials, and some of her as films like Bru and Perk became a big hit and she soon received many film offers and moved on to became a successful, award winning Bollywood actress. And later I followed in her footsteps because somewhere I realised that I too was very passionate about being in front of the camera and probably also has the talent for it which helped me follow my dream!
Sandy: Your sister Amrita Rao gave quite a few superhits early in her career. In what ways did she inspire you? How difficult or easy was it to be seen beyond being her sister?
Preetika: Amrita has always been a guiding force. Watching her handle stardom with grace and seeing her carefully pick roles where she did not have to compromise with her comfort space inspired me to focus on substance over noise. I was very clear from the beginning that I did not want to join Bollywood because I knew it was very easy to make a debut but I did not want to get into the rat race for survival. I always knew I was too conservative for Bollywood and there was no point in compromising on my comfort space just because I had the talent to act infront of the camera.
Yes, initially it was very natural for people to see me as her sister —but I saw it as a privilege! Infact a lot of people saw my work and much later realised I was her sister, and over time, I too could carve my own space by the grace of God and was able to stay consistent and true to my craft while following my heart and what I believed in portraying on screen as an Actor.
Sandy: You debuted in multiple regional industries and worked with prominent names. When you look back, what do you feel? Anything you’d change?
Preetika: Honestly, I see work as Destiny ! And that was a memorable phase in my life as an Actor ! Doing Tamil, Telugu, Kannada films respectively expanded me as an actor. I don’t believe in regrets, and I am happy that I got to portray very decent roles and work in movies that can be watching with your family comfortably ! However after my last Telugu movie I felt I had no creative satisfaction as an actor mouthing dialogues in languages that I never understood! Even before my Telugu movie Priyudu released I had already applied for my course in broadcast journalism in New York film academy and I was all ready to quit the industry for good!
Sandy: You took the bold step of entering television. Beintehaa was a massive success. What was that journey like?
Preetika: In 2014-2017 when I did Television, most Bollywood actors were getting into television shows, and reality shows so it with the perfect time for me to do a television show ! Colors TV emerged as a huge success and Beintehaa was a prime time show that got me immense love and international fan-following!
Beintehaa was magical ! My pairing with Harshad Arora was a huge hit and we won the Best Jodi award that year …I also won best debut and Performer Of the Year for Beintehaa, however I worked for 350days out of 365 without a break. It was the toughest work I have done so far as an actor in terms of quantity and schedule ! 20 mins of edited episode for 5 days in a week, for an entire year is like working in 100+ bollywood moves ! But it gave me fans in Indonesia Turkey Kazakhstan Pakistan Azerbaijan Tanzania when the show was dubbed and released in local languages abroad and still continues to give me love and messages from viewers worldwide who write they are watching this series on repeat ! After Beintehaa I worked in a Star Plus show and then finally started my own Channel and Podcasts post lockdown!
Sandy: You seem to have ventured into reality shows too. You have embraced all formats. What drives this openness?
Preetika: I have not participated in any reality show. It was a conscious decision not to! I am a very private person and the format of a reality show is totally out of my comfort space.
It is a rumour that I was a participant in Big Boss, probably because Beintehaa was launched on the Big Boss set and I was introduced as a character on stage by Salman Khan to the audience. Nor was I a participant in the Box Cricket league, or Jhalak Dikhlaja- as is rumoured.
Sandy: You studied Journalism amidst acting. Could you tell us more?
Preetika: Yes! It was a very interesting phase in my life where I wrote for Bangalore Mirror for two years while shooting for my Kannada and Tamil movies. It totally helped me evolve into a professional Podcaster that I am today—with my own podcast show produced and directed by me for my channel.
Sandy: Your podcast has been a unique hit. Tell us about it!
Preetika: Wow ! It has been my soul project !!! I am really happy I trended Astrology Podcasts in India and emerged as the first Indian female podcaster with a professional in-studio podcasting set-up on YouTube , I also became India’s first female Spiritual Podcaster with a dedicated channel to Spiritual Podcasts.
I have done this single handedly without any help from a third party producer or production house! It was a huge challenge! But I was passionate about what I have to offer to the world as a creator and I went to have it my convictions!
Fortunately this year, the Ministry of Culture recognised my work and invited me for a ‘meet and greet’ with the Minister of Culture and Tourism Sri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and they collaborated with me to promote the Maha Kumbh as an influencer – which was a huge recognition for me as a Content Creator!
It has been a soulful experience to interview enlightened Guru’s like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Paramhans Vishwananda, Gaurang das, Sister Shivani amongst others and to have them as guests on my Podcasts.
🔥 QUICK SHOT ROUND 🔥
– Your biggest fear:Â Loosing my loved ones!
– Barter career for a day with: Oprah Winfrey – for her spiritual depth & impact.
– What do you do when you have nothing to do: Been a long time since I had nothing to do ( laughs)
– Directors you’d like to work with: Amit Masurkar – my cousin! He is brilliant!
– Film/role you wish you were part of: Karishma Kapoor’s role in Zubaida – Aishwarya Rai’s role in Kandukonden Kandukonden
– If you were to be stuck in an elevator with someone, with whom would you like to be stuck with: Shah Rukh Khan ! I actually have got into an elevator with him in Macau. But luckily, we were not stuck in it ! ( Laughs )
– Your Go-to food:Â Sambar rice
– A habit of yours you’d like to change: Overthinking.
– Favourite holiday destination: Switzerland
– Your biggest regret:Â Not listening to my gut feeling in some cases when it came to trusting friends
– If a movie were to be made on your life, what would you title it:Â ‘My Journey within..’
Sandy: What’s in the pipeline next?
Preetika: More powerful conversations, deeper dives into ancient wisdom, and collaborations with renowned spiritual figures. I don’t see myself going back to acting anymore, as I somehow feel disconnected from portraying an on-screen role and mouthing scripted lines that are far away from my reality!
People can never know the real you when they watch you on screen portraying different characters! Podcasting is truly the ‘real deal’ for me where one recognises me today for the real person that I truly am !
Sandy: Any advice for aspiring artists?
Preetika: During my time one could have a full fledged career in Modelling and acting! Today if you get one advertisement there is no guarantee you will get the second one .. and same stands true for movie and television shows. So while you maybe passionate about acting , please also be 100% practical and learn to accept the situation without being embroiled in what the world will think of you if you decide to turn practical someday!
And definitely consult an authentic and genuine astrologer for all your career moves! It helps a great deal!
Sandy: Given a chance, what roles would you like to play? Genres you’d love?