Yogesh Mishra | yogesh@bollywoodtown.in
Anupama Prakash is a renowned actress who has appeared in many films in both Hindi and South Indian languages. Acting has always been her first love, but she has also harbored the dream of starting her own film production company-a goal that has now become a reality, thanks to the support of her long-time friend and co-founder, Tushar Mehta. She has worked in numerous films, but her recent Telugu release, Mr. Reddy, marks one of her biggest career breakthroughs to date. Additionally, she has gained widespread popularity with her music video Mirchi Billi, featured in her upcoming web series Band Baja Aafat. In an exclusive interview with Yogesh Mishra, she shared insights about her early days in Mumbai, her vision for her new production house, her stance on the casting couch, upcoming film projects, and much more.
Q: Originally, where are you from, and when did you come to Mumbai?
Anupama Prakash: I am originally from Lucknow, but I was born in Hamirpur. I moved to Mumbai in 2017.
Q: Did you come to Mumbai solely for acting?
Anupama Prakash: Yes, my primary purpose for coming to Mumbai was acting. However, I initially started my career in modelling. Although my ultimate goal was acting, I began by doing various modelling assignments. My father was keen for me to prepare for the IAS exam in Lucknow, but after winning the Miss UP award in Miss Photogenic and Miss Model categories, my perspective shifted. I began acting training at Bharat Natyam Academy, and subsequently, I moved to Mumbai. However, I went back home due to family concerns. Later, my father suggested I restart my career in Delhi, so I continued modelling there. The rest, as they say, is history.
Q: How was your experience working in Hyder Kazmi’s film Chuhiya?
Anupama Prakash: Working on Chuhiya was a wonderful experience. The film was released on OTT platforms and is now available on YouTube. After that, I appeared in several web series and then transitioned into South Indian films. Mr. Reddy is among those.
Q: How did you land the role in Mr. Reddy?
Anupama Prakash: I got this opportunity through one of the casting agents. I auditioned for the role, then did a photo shoot, and ultimately, I was selected in Mr. Reddy.
Q: Have you ever faced the challenge of the casting couch?
Anupama Prakash: Yes, I have encountered such situations. Once, there was an indirect offer, which I understood well. The casting couch is a harsh reality in the industry. I always refused such propositions. I prefer to focus on genuine opportunities and avoid wasting my time with such individuals.
Q: Do you think Bollywood is a safe place for newcomers?
Anupama Prakash: I believe it can be safe, especially for women, but it depends on the individual. If a girl shows inappropriate intentions, then she might be exploited. Ultimately, safety depends on awareness and personal choices.
Q: Are you open to playing various types of roles?
Anupama Prakash: Absolutely. If I like the character, I am willing to play it. However, I do not accept roles I don’t connect with. For instance, I was offered a role in a TV serial for Colors, but I decided against it because I didn’t want to be committed to a long-running serial for years.
Q: What do you think was a turning point in your acting career?
Anupama Prakash: The key was getting a chance. Once I had the opportunity, I began my journey from modelling to films and web series, gradually building my career.
Q: What are your upcoming film projects?
Anupama Prakash: So far, I’ve been part of Hindi films like Chuhiya, along with several web series. I’ve also appeared in South Indian films. Recently, Mr. Reddy was released in Telugu, and I’m currently working on three more Telugu films that are in production. Most of my work comprises South Indian films and Hindi web series.
Q: When did you conceptualize starting your own production house?
Anupama Prakash: I had always wanted to start a production house. It was my personal dream, independent of outside influence. Tushar Mehta has been a great support in turning this vision into reality.
Q: How did Tushar Mehta become involved in your production venture?
Anupama Prakash: I met Tushar through a mutual friend. We discussed ideas and mutually agreed to collaborate. Together, we established Kaccha Lemmon Productions.
Q: What are the future projects from your production house?
Anupama Prakash: We are currently in post-production for What’s UP (a Hindi movie) and the Band Baja Aafat web series. Our popular Mirchi Billi song has been released on YouTube and has been a huge hit. We are also preparing to release a soulful Divine Ganpati song shortly. Currently, we are reviewing scripts and preparing for new projects. Our office at Andheri is now fully operational.
