Actress Deepika Tripathy has earned accolades for delivering power-packed performances in films like Tiger, Gapa Hele Bi Sata, 2014 Fear of the Year, Romeo Juliet and Dil Ka Raja. Known for her stunning looks, Deepika has also been part of Telugu horror flick Pramadam and a Bhojpuri film Dabang Sarkar opposite popular actor Khesari Lal Yadav.
Born to Gitarani and Ajay Kumar Tripathy, Deepika was smitten by the acting bug when she was a child. After completing higher secondary, her parents got her enrolled at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bhubaneswar to pursue singing. However, destiny had different plans.
“While doing graduation at Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, I came across popular producer and event manager Ramesh Barik who advised me to try my luck in acting. He asked me to get in touch with Odia filmmaker Sanjay Nayak who was looking for a fresh face for his film, To Bata Chahinchi Mun Sara Rati,” says Deepika.
However, despite having an inclination towards acting since childhood, Deepika was nervous at the auditions. “It wasn’t easy but I managed to bag the role of the second lead. Initially, I found it very difficult and would give up to eighteen retakes for a scene. But the crew was very supportive and encouraged me,” she says.
Finally, the film released and Deepika’s performance was much appreciated by both critics and audience. Since then, there has been no looking back for the actress. Later, Deepika was offered a role in director Sushant Mani’s Golapi Golapi. “In Golapi Golapi, I got a chance to work with actor Siddhanta Mahapatra. It was a dream come true for me, as I have been a big fan of his since childhood. By that time, I was comfortable facing the camera and had given hits like Tiger, Gapa Hele Bi Sata, 2014 Fear of the Year,” she says.
Working in the Bhojpuri film Dabang Sarkar too has been a learning experience for Deepika. The actress, who is also a known face at fashion shows, came across actor-singer Khesari Lal Yadav during one such event in Bihar. “He approached me for a role in a Bhojpuri film and I instantly agreed. Dabang Sarkar went on to become a major hit, and my performance was appreciated,” says the winner of the Odia Filmfare Award for Best Emerging Actress 2016.
Deepika, who has also won Roop Nagar Maya Nagar Odia Best New Actress Award 2017 and Cine Sansar Best Stylish Actress 2017, says that despite getting offers to work in television, she has so far declined them because she didn’t find the scripts interesting. “However, recently I was offered a role which I had long dreamt of. I am playing a singer in upcoming show Sargam, which will be aired on a popular Odia channel. I didn’t want to let go the offer, as I had always aspired to be a singer,” she says.
Deepika, will also be soon seen in a music video alongside Siddharth Sukla. “We had to postpone the shoot as Siddharth recently met with a minor accident. He won’t be able to shoot for some time, so the video’s release too has been pushed back,” she says. Deepika will also be seen in a cameo opposite Abhay Deol in the upcoming Hindi film Jungle Cry directed by Prashanta Saha.
An ardent admirer of Neeti Mohan, Sonu Nigam and Alka Yagnik, Deepika says that she is flooded with offers for both Odia and Bhojpuri films. However, the actress has different plans. “I wanted to become a singer but couldn’t. Now I plan to come up with an Odia album. I will both sing and star in the album,” she says.
SOYONG, OP