by shelly decaigny
photo courtesy of avantika vandanapu
Strong, determined, and talented are all perfect words to describe Avantika Vandanapu, star of the Disney Original Movie Spin. She has pursued her love of creative expression through dance, acting, and other arts. Avantika has worked hard to make a name for herself through her many acting roles, and she is eager to expand to producing. Maintaining an acting career at such a young age has required dedication and sacrifice. She has been unable to attend regular school, due to the demands of travel and other scheduling conflicts. Instead she has dedicated herself to homeschooling. With the support of teachers, and of course family, Avantika has added this to her list of successes. Though her childhood experiences have not necessarily been typical, they have been overall joyful and fulfilling. It was an absolute pleasure learning more about Avantika Vandanapu during our recent interview.
You have such an interesting backstory. Tell us about your journey toward acting.
Avantika: “Since I was five years old, I have been a dancer. I was always drawn towards the creative arts and, especially, the expressional aspects of dancing. I was selected for a dance reality show when I was ten and the competition was being held in Mumbai, India. After experiencing the hub of Bollywood, I fell in love with the film industry. I moved to India soon after I booked my first Telugu film. It was quite a transition as I had grown up in America — but it was a leap I had to take for my passion. My parents were a big support — so I remain thankful to them forever. After three years of working in India, I decided to finally return back to America. I felt that opportunities for POC were growing in Hollywood and I wanted to take a shot at pursuing my dreams in my homeland. After returning to the US, I realized that Hollywood had more acting roles and movies I was drawn to working in. I was determined to make a career for myself — and here we are now!”
What types of roles have you played in the past?
A: “I have mostly played childhood character of older leads in films — which was predominantly my experience in India. However, after transitioning to the American film industry — I have found myself playing a varied spectrum of roles. I played a supportive ally in Diary of a Future President, an aspiring musician in Spin, and, now — I am playing a political cheerleader in Senior Year.”
Your latest project is “Spin,” a Disney Original Movie. Describe your role and what you love most about it.
A: “I play the character of Rhea — a bubbly, charming girl dedicated to music, family, and friends. She has been an extremely relatable character to me in the sense that she is struggling to find her own self and having difficulties in believing her own capabilities. I love the dedication Rhea has and the fiercely loyal person that she is. It curves out a charismatic dynamic of the character altogether.”
I understand that you began homeschooling at the age of five. What were your biggest challenges and favorite things about learning from home?
A: “Acting as a profession requires loads of travel and time. I enrolled in homeschooling due to unpredictable travel schedules for filming. So, it was quite impossible for me to attend regular school without having difficulties in time management and attendance. The online teachers were very cooperative but I definitely missed the environment of a regular school and the ability to attend classes with friends. However, my online teachers were extremely helpful and homeschooling has significantly improved my coping mechanism with stress and time management.”
photo courtesy of avantika vandanapu
What is one unique or interesting fact that you would like us to know about you?
A: “I love cooking, reading, and taking pictures of my friends in my free time!”
You aspire to become a producer, and you have a very important mission in mind for your future career. Please fill us in about your goals and dreams.
A: “There is something astonishingly beautiful about being part of a project from the start. I recently optioned the rights to a New York Times bestseller. I am currently in the initial stages of development in regards to producers and investors.”
It seems like you have learned a lot through your variety of life experiences. Please share a bit of advice with your fans.
A: “One thing I have learned is that youth is a time for experimentation. No one should put themselves in a box. It is important to experiment through trials and errors and young adults should be soaring and shooting for the stars. I hope that Spin inspires those who watch it and helps them pursue their dreams.”