Latest news with #Abhignya
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Abhignya Vuthaluru on working in ‘thrilling, chilling' Viraatapalem PC Meena Reporting: ‘Many were shocked to learn…'
It's not just big stars, even those who've built a loyal fanbase through social media content also often find it difficult to break away from their established persona and try something uncharted. The hesitation isn't always due to a lack of ability. It more often stems from the fear of whether their fans would accept them in a new light, shattering the image that helped build their popularity in the first place. But YouTuber-turned-actor Abhignya Vuthaluru believes she's been fortunate to have an audience that already knows that she's a jack of many trades and supports her wish to experiment as an artiste. Not just that she isn't weighed down by the persona shaped by her fashion-centric YouTube channel, but it has only empowered her to pursue her aspirations in cinema without being enchained by expectations. That's also one of the reasons, she admits, why she could confidently take on the central role in the upcoming ZEE5 Telugu original series Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting without second thoughts. In Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting, Abhignya plays Meena, a police constable posted in the fictional village of Viraatapalem during the 1980s. The series is touted as a thriller centred around the mysterious deaths of brides on their wedding days, as a result of which no marriage has taken place in the village in a decade. The trailer and other promotional material have also established that the show will be a thrilling ride, devoid of overtly feel-good elements. Speaking about the show, in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Abhignya says, 'While I was watching the first cut, there were moments where I felt a sort of (creepy) energy. These aren't jump scares, but scenes that make you feel eerie. The frames and music definitely keep you hooked. It's both thrilling and chilling.' So what drew her to a character like Meena, especially since the show features a subject many actors might shy away from due to its intensity and the need to step outside their comfort zone? Abhignya notes, 'Though I am not so self-introspecting on my choices, I know where I want to be. I know with the little or upcoming better influence that I have, I want to be part of stories that reflect something beyond skin and external factors, such as fashion. Having said that, there's nothing wrong with it. I myself come from a fashion background and have a fashion channel. But I think that is always something you can achieve. However, stories like Viraatapalem that have personalities and layers are rare finds. It is a choice that I made much earlier in my career. While I'm part of glam and femme stories too, I also want to prove to my audience that this is the range I can perform. I want to be a versatile actor that way.' Was it an easy decision to take on such a role, especially since it deviates so far from her public persona? Did she ever worry about how her social media fam would react? 'I am actually blessed with a crowd on my social media who know that I can do that and this. While I enjoy the vanity aspect of actors, I also want to have a voice. Sure, we like to look at someone pretty, but when they have something to tell, it'll keep us hooked to them. I don't have a mantra to it. I'm just going by my gut feeling, and I know that it's all sort of adding up,' Abhignya maintains. 'It was so different from my other projects and in a good way,' she recalls her experience working on Viraatapalem. 'This was the first time I got a proper Telugu script in a set. And that took me back to my childhood.' Although she can read and write in Telugu, Abhignya admits she had started losing touch with the lipi (script), since most of her recent projects had English or Tenglish (a blend of Telugu and English) scripts. 'Also, when you speak English often, you tend to use a certain enunciation, and that's something I had to unlearn this time. It was a beautiful experience. Everyone on set was shocked upon learning that I could actually read Telugu,' she adds. A post shared by SCREEN (@ieentertainment) During the chat, Abhignya also shared that part of the fun working on Viraatapalem was also because the show has a 'beautiful balance of young and experienced actors.' She adds, 'There were character artistes who had as much experience as our ages. And they were cracking jokes and trying to understand our lingo. It was a super fun set. Also, the pace at which director Poluru Krishna shot the show was impressive. He knew every frame very well. This was the quickest shoot I have been part of.' Also starring Charan Lakkaraju, Lavanya Sahukara, Ramaraju, Gowtham Raju and Satish in key roles, Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting will start streaming on ZEE5 on June 27.
India.com
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Viraatapalem
Telugu actress Abhignya Vuthaluru, who made her debut with 'Her – Chapter 1' and 'Geetha Subramanyam: Season 3', also starred in the web series 'Miss Perfect', is now set to appear in the supernatural thriller 'Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting'. The series will premiere on June 27 on ZEE5 Global, which revolves around a chilling curse that looms over residents of a remote village known as Viraatapalem, where every bride mysteriously dies on her wedding day. For over decade, no marriage has taken place, and the once-thriving village is now home only to very young and the very old, crippled by fear and superstition. Abhignya Vutahluru On Pay Disparity Issue Abhignya Vuthaluru, who will be featuring for the first time as a lead actress in this series, spoke about the pay disparity issue between genders. The 30-year-old actress expressed her views on it and mentioned that it should be an 'equal pay system.' During a conversation with Abhignya said, ' This is something that I am yet to learn, because mujhe lagta hai ki pay disparity nahi honi chahiye, kyunki main agar ek taraf se ek energy laa rahi hoon, ladki ki tarah, ladke bhi jab aate hai, I am sure they also come with certain energy. Agar humara kaam ek hi level par ho raha hai energy ke hisaab se, then we all deserve equal pay, par recent interviews dekha jaye, market value bhi bata rahi ki ek bandi market value itna laati hai, you have to pay them larger .' (This is something that I am yet to learn. Because I feel that there should be no pay disparity. If our work is happening on the same level of energy, I think we all deserve equal pay. But if you look at recent interviews, market value is also showing that a girl brings so much market value. So, you have to pay them larger.) We Don't Put Female Actors On Pedestal Abhignya further continued and stated, ' So, I think as more than actors being questioned, I think we have to change all of us as a community, jaise hum bahut male actors ko celebrate karte hain, we don't put female actors on a pedestal, so rather than asking the actors may be agar hum community ke hisaab se equal ki tarah importance dein performances ko than genders, then automatically I think pay parity will lead. ' (So, I think as more than actors being questioned, I think we have to change all of us as a community, like we celebrate too many male actors, we don't put female actors on a pedestal, so rather than asking the actors may be if we as a community have equal importance dein performances than genders, then automatically I think pay parity will lead.)
Hans India
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Naveen Chandra Unveils Gripping Trailer of ZEE5's ‘Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting'
India's leading OTT platform, ZEE5, renowned for its engaging Telugu web series, is back with a brand-new thriller titled 'Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting', headlined by the talented Abhignya Vuthaluru. Directed by Poluru Krishna and produced by Sriram under the banner South Indian Screens, the series is set for its grand premiere on June 27. Ahead of the release, the makers unveiled the official trailer in Hyderabad, with popular actor Naveen Chandra doing the honors and extending his best wishes to the team. Set in the 1980s, 'Viraatapalem' delves into the eerie mystery of young brides who die under suspicious circumstances soon after marriage. The story follows PC Meena, a newly transferred constable, as she investigates a web of superstitions and secrets that shroud the village. Watch the trailer here: 🔗 Viraatapalem Trailer – Telugu 🔗 Press Meet Live The series also stars Charan Lakkaraju, Lavanya Sahukara, Ramaraju, Gowtham Raju, and Satish in key roles. The story was penned by Divya Thejaswi Pera, screenplay by Vikram Kumar Kandimalla, cinematography by Mahesh K Swaroop, editing by Farooq Hundekar, and background score by Rohit Kumar. Naveen Chandra shared, 'The poster caught my attention immediately. Having loved 'Recce', I was intrigued to know it's by the same director. Abhignya seems perfect for the role, and I'm confident this series will create a buzz. I'll binge-watch it on June 27, and I urge everyone to do the same.' Lead actress Abhignya said, 'Portraying a police constable tackling village superstitions is a unique and powerful role. Thank you to Divya for the script, and to Krishna garu and Sriram garu for believing in me.' Producer Sriram added, 'This story haunted me after the first narration. Abhignya's excitement convinced me she was right for the part. Krishna garu came on board despite his packed schedule, and I thank everyone who worked hard to make this possible.' Director Krishna said, 'After the success of 'Recce', I am thrilled to bring another compelling story with 'Viraatapalem'. I hope audiences enjoy it just as much.' ZEE5 Content Head Sai Tej revealed plans to expand the story into a franchise, with PC Meena taking on new missions in upcoming seasons. 'The series is family-friendly and binge-worthy, with a climax that will surprise everyone.' With strong performances, a gripping premise, and high production values, 'Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting' promises to be a must-watch thriller when it premieres exclusively on ZEE5, June 27. Don't miss it!
