Ramya and Hemanth Rao Share Candid Cinema Insights at Bengaluru Art Weekend
The closing day of the Bengaluru Art Weekend featured a remarkably candid and deeply insightful conversation between acclaimed actor Ramya and celebrated filmmaker Hemanth M Rao. What unfolded was far more than a simple discussion about cinema—it became a profound reflection on artistic evolution, creative instinct, professional struggle, and the quiet discipline that defines true longevity in the entertainment industry.
Ramya's Unromantic Beginnings and Screen Time Focus
Ramya didn't romanticize her early career beginnings. Instead, she peeled back the glamorous veneer to reveal a far more mechanical start to her acting journey. "I wasn't really given the script; I only knew what my character was," she revealed. "I would surrender myself to the director and do as he asked." She explained that instinct—often celebrated as essential to acting—actually developed much later in her career.
"There was no scope for instinct initially," Ramya elaborated. "It came only after I began to understand scripts and draw on my lived experiences. Every time I heard a script, I thought this is definitely not going to work, but they all turned out to be blockbusters."
During that era, success wasn't measured by opening weekend box office numbers but by significant milestones like 100 or 200-day theatrical runs. Yet for Ramya, her decision-making process remained refreshingly simple: "I just wanted to ensure I had good screen time, how many scenes I had, if I had a good song—that's all that mattered."
Hemanth Rao's Journey from Engineering to Filmmaking
For filmmaker Hemanth M Rao, the journey into cinema wasn't marked by a single decisive moment but rather a gradual, persistent pull toward storytelling. "I still don't know the answer to why filmmaking," he admitted, "but cinema is an amalgamation of all arts. I could do everything I loved in one place."
Coming from an engineering background, Rao reflected critically on the rigidity of traditional career paths. "Our education system removes your individuality; it tries to make you like everybody else," he observed. "But storytelling was my first love and kept calling me back. It took me 8-9 years to feel confident enough to make a film."
Learning from Legends and Maintaining Approachability
Ramya shared how her experiences working with cinematic icons like Amitabh Bachchan profoundly shaped her professional approach. "Working with Mr. Bachchan was a great learning experience; he made me feel comfortable, instantly cracked jokes, and eased my stress," she recalled.
However, the biggest takeaway from working with industry legends was their character. "They all had humility and empathy; nobody showed off," Ramya emphasized. "It takes a lot for someone to approach you. I always make sure I'm approachable."
The Director-Actor Dynamic and Creative Collaboration
As a director, Hemanth Rao broke down the delicate equation between filmmaker and performer. "My role is information control; actors don't need to know everything, just the emotional arc," he explained. "There are times when the actor's instinct is better than mine; you have to keep your ego aside. The film slowly stops being mine; it becomes everyone's."
Rao stressed the importance of recognizing creative limits: "You can't push actors endlessly after a point; it becomes mechanical."
Social Media's Impact and the Changing Industry Landscape
Both artists agreed that the entertainment industry has changed dramatically in recent years. Ramya noted: "Today, it's easier. You have social media, direct access. Back then, we didn't have that."
However, Hemanth Rao added an important caveat about the digital age's paradox. "The Internet has made knowledge free, but focus is limited," he observed. "You have to be crazily invested in your craft; it's not just about likes and followers."
Rao expressed openness to casting talent discovered through social media platforms but established clear conditions. "It's not about looks; you need dedication to the craft," he insisted. "People watch reels for free, while cinema is something they pay for. That experience won't go away. If you want to showcase talent, be the best version of yourself."
The conversation between Ramya and Hemanth M Rao ultimately revealed two distinct yet complementary perspectives on navigating the complex world of cinema—one from an actor who evolved through surrender to direction, and another from a filmmaker who sees cinema as the ultimate synthesis of artistic expression.
