Watch: Ananthika’s Journey From Arts To Cinema!

Ananthika Sanilkumar is slowly carving her own space in Telugu cinema, but her journey to the big screen has been anything but easy. Ahead of Romanchakam release, she sat down for a beautiful conversation with Gulte Pro’s Ram Venkat Srikar and opened up about her childhood, passions and acting journey.

Long before films came into the picture, Ananthika was deeply connected with the arts. Dance, music, drawing and martial arts became part of her growing years, while traditional Kerala art forms like Kathakali and Ottamthullal also played an important role in shaping her artistic personality.

Interestingly, she managed to balance all these activities with academics. From achieving a black belt in karate to maintaining strong academic performance, Ananthika recalled how discipline became a natural part of her life. Her family’s support, despite financial challenges, also played a major role in keeping her artistic journey alive.

Cinema, however, came with a different set of challenges. Auditions, rejections, language difficulties and the uncertainty of getting a proper opportunity tested her patience. Instead of giving up, she continued attending workshops, reading scripts and working on herself while waiting for the right opportunity.

Her breakthrough eventually came with 8 Vasanthalu. Ananthika spoke fondly about how the trust shown by the director and the team gave her confidence. From preparing for the role to actually facing the camera, every stage became a learning experience for the young actor.

She also opened up about the excitement and nervousness of performing dialogue for the first time. Coming from a strong dance background helped her with performance and expression, but cinema introduced her to an entirely different world where every department, from lighting to costumes and direction, contributes to the final product.

The conversation gives a closer look at the person behind the actor and her genuine love for the arts. With Romanchakam ahead, Ananthika appears eager to explore different characters and continue learning, while staying connected to the artistic roots that shaped her journey.