Kaajal Kunder on ‘Bili Chukki Halli Hakki’: ‘I was drawn to this character’

Kaajal Kunder looks forward to the release of Bili Chukki Halli Hakki, a film on vitiligo

Kaajal Kunder is a Mangalurean, born and brought up in Navi Mumbai. She moved to Bengaluru six months ago to further her career in Kannada films. The actor is awaiting the release of the film, Bili Chukki Halli Hakki, where she plays a character named Kavita.

Written and directed by Mahesh Gowda, the film, says Kaajal, speaks of vitiligo, without being preachy. “The film does not aim at creating awareness about the skin condition. Instead, it deals with the emotional state and challenges a person with vitiligo goes through and how it affects the people connected to them. The film’s director, Mahesh, who plays the lead, has this skin condition.”

Kaajal started her career with small roles on television, including Har Har Mahadev. She found her footing in Kannada cinema with Maya Kannadi, KTM with Deekshith Shetty and Pepe with Vinay Rajkumar.

In Bili Chukki Halli Hakki, Kaajal says, she plays a simple, yet mature character. “Kavita is an introvert, she is neither vocal or expressive. I was drawn to this character and also believe the concept of the film is unique.”

Kaajal is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. “I enjoy all forms of dance — from Bollywood to folk and everything in between. I nurtured a dream of acting since childhood and started giving auditions as soon as I started college. That is how my acting journey began, with one small role at a time.”

Having lived in Mumbai all her life, Kaajal’s first challenge as an actor in Kannada cinema was to master Kannada. “I was new to Bengaluru and navigating it was overwhelming. The journey is never easy, specifically for women. In retrospect, I feel that the struggle was necessary for my personal growth. These are the experiences I lean on to build my on-screen characters.”

As an artiste, Kaajal believes, the way to prove her mettle is by giving her best shot to every role. “I have been lucky that all the characters I play have been strong women. The credit for this goes to the writers and directors.”