This beautiful woman is marvellous inside and out. Her thoughts make her indigenously capable; she sticks to her grounds and only expresses herself for the welfare of the people. Her role in most of her movies is a living reality, and this helps deliver the desired justice to the character. Perseverance, contentment and love, along with a little bit of patience, completes her life.
Her life has been constantly improving, maturing with age. Milana has been persistent in her career, from producing the Mocktail series to performing the lead roles in movies with eloquence. In all, she is an independent and well-respected woman in the industry. She believes consistency, hard work and patience can take one to incredible heights. She thinks that simple living with no fancy lifestyle would bring happiness. Happiness is essential to live in this world.
Here is an eventful interaction with Milana Nagaraj; she told us about her lifestyle, success, and thoughts as an actor.
Q. Can you tell us anything about your childhood, childhood ambitions, personal life?
A. I was always interested in sports, swimming and every other activity that kept me on my toes. I was a national medalist in swimming. I wanted to do something different from a nine-to-five job, which was my priority. I was interested in acting, and cinema fascinated me. One day, I saw a contest happening. I tried my luck in the contest, which eventually helped me enter the industry.
Q. What was your life’s happiest, most memorable moment till now?
A. Producing the Love Mocktail series, as in the two movies with my husband Krishna, was my life’s most special and happiest moment. The film won on a larger scale, along with many fans’ hearts. Yes, that’s the best memory.
Q. If we give you a piece of paper to write about your husband DK, what will you write?
A. Krishna is dedicated, reliable and disciplined towards his career and family. He is a righteous man. He does all his work passionately, from chores in the house to things in his career as an actor. He’s a very passionate human.
Q. Do you believe in keeping your personal life away from the public eye?
A. Nothing can be hidden these days because of social media’s strong influence on our lives. Before we knew it, our minor update on our social media handle would have become a piece of news. It’s left up to us to keep our lives public or private; it depends on how careful we are. There are many things I wouldn’t want outsiders to know that could be anything, but I would use social media to promote my work, like my movies. I need to do so for the maximum reach that it has.
Q. Beyond being an actor, what kind of a person you are? What are you passionate about, and what are your hobbies?
A. My husband and I are actors. Our worlds revolve around cinema alone. We have much to discuss in cinema: our performances in different films and analysis of our roles. We watch them together to understand how we can do better next time. Besides cinema, I love to exercise and sweat out, as does my husband. We are both fitness freaks, one can say that. Our involvement in sporting activities like swimming or working out in the gym is mostly together. We learn a new activity whenever our work gives us some time off. We were playing tennis the other day; neither knew the sport before. Travelling is also one of our favourites. Cinema is running on our television, scripts are discussed, and dialogues are learned.
Q. How often do you go on holiday? Tell us your favourite holiday destination.
A. Our lives depend on the films we make, so our presence is very much necessary. We can’t bail out on such important days, and the schedule sometimes assures us to plan a holiday. We are constantly exhausted by the tight schedule. Hence, most of our holidays are planned when we need a holiday after the hectic shooting season. We don’t usually repeat the places we visit, but Maldives is one destination we love, and we’ve gone there a couple of times.
Q. What’s your fitness routine, and what’s your diet like?
A. My diet is nothing extraordinary, just homemade food, and sometimes I order my favourite food. My regular is south-Indian food; it includes a lot of vegetables and greens. I’ve been programmed this way. You know, to take care of my health, eat a lot of green and healthy food. I’ve always avoided junk, so I don’t crave junk anymore, but I intake enough proteins, fibre and carbohydrates to keep my body healthy. All this is attained through regular food intake and nothing extravagant like supplements. I drink enough water; dehydration should be avoided at any cost.
Q. Is there anything that makes you insecure and low?
A. Insecurities are the first obstacles we overcome as actors. I’m way past that, so I’m not insecure about anything anymore. Emotionally low is something I feel when I hear extremely judgemental comments both in real life and on social media. Even great actors have a few not-so-famous movies. They are, after all, humans. One can even criticise the film and the actor’s acting skills, but judging can be accepted only by someone extraordinary in the field. I’d like to have sensible criticism. This inhumane behaviour makes most of the actors feel emotionally low.
Q. What do you enjoy the most about being an actress? What do you aim to express and show the world?
A. I like my career choice; I enjoy my work most days. I’ve always wanted to be an actor. Very few people get to do what they love every day, so I’m just enjoying my work. Most of all, I love the hustle; I travel and shoot daily. I want the world to understand and respect everybody. I’m independent, which I’m proud of; I want many people out there to become independent. And earn respect for their greatness in various aspects of life.
Q. What difference have you seen in yourself from your debut to the last movie you worked in?
A. When I first entered this industry, I was very raw and unprepared to face the camera, and everything happened so quickly that I didn’t have the time to look back and learn. If you ask me now, I am an improved, evolved version of myself. I’m much more mature and more prepared for my acting actions. There is a lot of difference between my performance in front of the camera at my debut and now. I’m much better because I’ve learnt from all the experiences in this industry.
Q. Tell us your experience from the films you’ve worked in.
A. From my first movie to now, I’ve had a beautiful journey. I’ve learned a lot, evolved as an actor, learned from my role models, and learned the best from my co-actors. I’ve never been happier; I’ve seen my growth, which makes me happy. Nevertheless, I still have a lot to learn. Consistently matters the most here. I’ve been here for a few years, but it has shaped me into a better version of myself. In all, I’ve had an incredible journey.
Q. From Best Actress – Kannada to 9th South Indian International Movie Award to Best Actress – Critics and 67th Filmfare Awards South. It’s been a commendable journey, and we’d like to congratulate you on this. Could you tell us about your journey?
A. Thank you!!! I’ve been nothing but consistent here, and hard work paid off. I’ve been here from the time I started. Being here in the field one wants to grow in is very important. Dedication, perseverance, and hard work are essential to pave the way. There are no shortcuts to success in this field; shortcuts work in very few cases. Patience is another essential. When you see an opportunity, grab it because no one will give it to you on a silver platter.
Q. We’ve noticed that you were the producer for two movies: Love Mocktail and the sequel Love Mocktail 2. How powerful does that feel?
A. I’m a woman with a strong convection. I wanted to produce and did it; I’ve always been this way. Whenever I want something, I make sure I get it for myself. Being a producer felt powerful. I was the lead actress in the same film. It was heartwarming, and I enjoyed the chaos and the work it took to produce and act. It was not easy, but if I wanted to do something different, even when this was predicted to be challenging, making this happen was the best feeling. I’ve felt powerful as well. Producing both films was a fantastic journey. If I find a script worth making a movie, I want to produce it. I’m still acting, so I want to do both whenever possible.
Q. What is the impact you want to leave on people, for the ones who watch you in both movies and real life?
A. I know there are a few similarities between the characters Nidhi and me, as seen on the screen and in my real life. People are used to seeing me as Nidhi, considering I’ve played her role in two consecutive movies. I want to try other roles, too. An actor needs a change, and we cannot get comfortable with one role just cause the audience loves it. We will bring a character that will suit our audience. Overall, I want to inspire my audience to become their better version.
Q. What defines an actor or an actress? What’s the most essential need for an actor or actress?
A. Make sure to do justice to the role or the character according to the script. Living the life of that particular character for however long the character demands before the camera—the courage to be considerate of all the combined effort of the crew as well. An actor cannot abruptly leave because they don’t like a role in a film; they stay and get comfortable because the role demands it. This makes an actor admirable. The dearth and the passion to do better in every role, every shot and every scene is necessary. To show up when the role summons you. Passion fuels the artist.
Q. What defines an actor or an actress? What’s the most essential need for an actor or actress?
A. Make sure to do justice to the role or the character according to the script. Living the life of that particular character for however long the character demands before the camera—the courage to be considerate of all the combined effort of the crew as well. An actor cannot abruptly leave because they don’t like a role in a film; they stay and get comfortable because the role demands it. This makes an actor admirable. The dearth and the passion to do better in every role, every shot and every scene is necessary. To show up when the role summons you. Passion fuels the artist.
Q. Can you speak about your upcoming movie Lovebirds? Is there anything special and different in this movie?
A. Lovebirds, it’s an exciting family entertainer. A lot of people are going to relate to this film. This movie isn’t the only one that is special because every film I’ve worked on is special. This is important as it is my third film with Krishna; both of us are the main lead actors here. We would like to act in movies relatable to everybody, and a script with an important message to convey would be our first choice. The female lead character in this film is an independent designer, a powerful and bold woman. She falls in love. Everything changes!
Q. According to you, how should a woman dress?
A. Comfortable clothing over anything. Nobody gets to say anything about her dress.
Q. Can you speak about your upcoming movie Lovebirds? Is there anything special and different in this movie?
A. Lovebirds, it’s an exciting family entertainer. A lot of people are going to relate to this film. This movie isn’t the only one that is special because every film I’ve worked on is special. This is important as it is my third film with Krishna; both of us are the main lead actors here. We would like to act in movies relatable to everybody, and a script with an important message to convey would be our first choice. The female lead character in this film is an independent designer, a powerful and bold woman. She falls in love. Everything changes!
Q. According to you, how should a woman dress?
A. Comfortable clothing over anything. Nobody gets to say anything about her dress.
Love & Relationships
Q. What is your opinion on Valentine’s Day?
A. Honestly, I don’t believe in such days. One day is not enough to convey or show our partners our love. The expression of love should be done in different ways every day. Whenever your partner is in need and craves comfort, give it to them. One can certainly go out, celebrate this day and have a good time. It’s good to do so if celebrating it is healthy and conveys love in the relationship.
Q. What is your say on a perfect date?
A. It differs from person to person. Having dinner with Krishna and a nice movie at home would do the trick for me. Travelling to different places, taking your partner out for a good lunch or dinner, or ordering from his or her favourite restaurant could also be ideal. It’s more of a personal thing, so I cannot say anything to a large crowd because everyone has different choices. My perfect date would be at home; I like our space and the comfort we give each other.
Q. What is your take on love and relationships in today’s times?
A. I can’t generalise here. As you can see, people are very different in today’s times. I can’t criticise their idea of love; love is evolving just like everything else. Sometimes, things don’t work out, but sometimes, things work out for two partners. So I advise becoming more flexible and accepting only the right changes. Give yourself a chance to fall in love, even if it’s the fourth time because love comes into our lives differently. Relationship is a two-way ground; it only works out when it’s the combined effort of two people.
Q. For many people, you and your partner are an inspiration as a couple. What are your suggestions to young couples to maintain a happy and healthy relationship?
A. Respect each other’s passion and space. Krishna is very supportive of my acting career; he’s always been there for me. We’ve been there for each other through thick and thin; we respect each other’s space whenever needed. We communicate with each other; we don’t close the emotional doors when we need each other the most. We give time to each other, express our love, and respect each other as individuals, which has undoubtedly helped us survive. The key to a stable and healthy relationship is loyalty, honesty, and respect for each other.
Q. Could you tell us your love story in just a few words?
A. When Krishna proposed to me, we were barely friends, and he asked if we could get married. I checked a few things with him and tried getting to know him as a person. The grave question was, will he be okay with my acting career? I’m very health conscious; I wanted to know if he smoked or if he was consuming alcohol. When the answers were all in my favour, I took some time and considered everything. We started dating, we got to know each other, and eventually, we were married. It felt like an arranged set-up, but we were in love, which mattered most.
Rapid Fire Questions
1. Your dream role: A periodic character.
2. Your favourite movies are Haalu Jenu, Milana, and Mungaru Male, and I can’t name them anymore; there are many.
3. Favorite actor and actresses: Puneeth Rajkumar, Sudeep.
4. Some essentials always in your bag: Hot water flask, lip balm, moisturiser and wallet.
5. Favourite food: Ragi ball.
6. Beaches or Mountains: Beaches.
7. Fame or money: Fame.
8. Indian or Western clothing: Western.
9. Cooking or ordering: Both.
10. Straight or curly hair: I like curly hair on me.
11. The last film or web series you’ve watched: Khakee: the Bihar Chapter.
12. The next thing you want to streak off your bucket list: Travel destinations.
