Avantika Vandanapu Dialogues Her Journey to Disney Stardom
Teen actress Avantika Vandanapu wastes no time—since the tender age of five, the triple threat has dabbled in Indian cinema, dance competitions and Disney. Vandanapu began her career as a dancer, primarily studying Indian classical forms such as Kuchipudi and Kathak. In the years that followed, she was cast in 12 commercial Indian feature films, acted in over 25 commercials and starred in drama flick Brahmostavam. It wasn’t until this past year, however, that Vandanapu stepped into the spotlight with a small screen role: Kampala on Disney Junior’s cartoon mystery, Mira, Royal Detective, which pays tribute to Indian culture and customs. The 15-year-old also appears as Monyca in the Disney+ original comedy, Diary of a Future President, surrounding Cuban American tween Elena’s aspirations to become the president of the United States. With a diverse resume under her belt, Vandanapu has several adventures to recount and on-set secrets to share (hint: Disney serves particularly delicious chocolate chip cookies to cast members).
How did you first get into acting?
I was a dancer in a big national competition like So You Think You Can Dance in Mumbai, India, and a lot of people suggested that I try acting. They said, “You have an expressive face.” I was also a member of the drama club at school. So, when I came back to the United States, I sent in an audition tape for a Bollywood movie and booked it. I went all the way back to India, stayed there for two years, and now I'm in Los Angeles.
How did the Bollywood movies you acted in differ from the American movies?
There's much more music and dancing in Bollywood movies. It’s a lot about aesthetic appeal, especially for women. The colors and jewelry are different than those in the United States. I prefer American films much more because I get to do more acting. There are a ton of opportunities in America.
What was the audition process like for Mira, Royal Detective?
I heard about a new show Disney was coming up with to bring South Indian actors into the mainstream. They basically called for every Indian actor out there, and two years ago, there weren't that many Indian actors. When I auditioned, they brought me in, asked me to read for a bunch of roles, and then I booked the part. It was my first casting in Hollywood.
What was the process of recording a cartoon like? Did you get to see how your character looked before you went into the studio?
I didn't get to see my character beforehand. As far as I know, except for Mira, they drew the characters based on what the people looked like in real life. I got a script every week, and some weeks, I would go into the booth to record a song. Occasionally, I would meet a celebrity actor who was recording for the show, too, so that was pretty cool!
Who are some of your favorite celebrities to work with on the show?
Frieda Pinto and Jameela Jamil. That was very exciting.
How did your experience filming Diary of a Future President differ from Mira, Royal Detective?
Diary was more live-action, which was what I was interested in. By the time I booked Diary, I had tested for some big projects and booked a couple of pilots, but this was my first time being with a cast and recording multiple episodes. It was a great experience being on such a diverse show. They represent the Latinx communities well and show a lot of members of the LGBTQ community.
What was your favorite part of being on that set?
The table reads. Sitting and laughing together was the best part since we really had a chance to get to know each other. We often made mistakes, but when that happened, we’d just improv. It was more casual, which is what the industry tends to embrace about actors.
What does it mean to you to be a part of the Disney family?
When I was in India, I auditioned for a huge Disney movie that had gotten shelved but then re-released. I feel very honored to be involved with the people behind it. It’s something we all watched when we were growing up. I'm on my third Disney project.
What do you ultimately hope to accomplish in the future?
I plan on acting for my entire life. My dream role is to be in something action related, preferably a Marvel movie.
Follow Avantika on Social Media:
Instagram: @iamavantika
Facebook: @thisisavantika
Twitter: @thisisavantika
Additional reporting by Debra Wallace.