Her film industry roots as daughter of Tamil actor-turned-politician Khushboo Sundar and director-actor Sundar C, make her a nepo baby, but Avantika Sundar is clear she’s not letting this influence her debut.

Did she think at any point that her parents should have launched her since they own a production house? “I didn’t want that, but I would also be lying if I said I would have waited for someone to approach me. It would be wrong of me not to acknowledge that I have a leg up in the film industry thanks to my parents,” she says.

She divulges that her parents never offered to launch her either, but her debut would have been difficult without their support. Details of the project are yet to be revealed. Avantika shares that her parents warned her to expect scrutiny when she debuts because of who they are: “I think that’s completely fair, and I am prepared for that.”

She does acknowledge that her stint at acting school helped prepare for her life as a public figure, as it let her “get over being introverted and shy because I was very self-conscious. Drama school really forces you to cover all this while honing your craft. Having been in front of and behind the camera at school, I learned that everyone on set is important,” she explains.

Does she already feel pressured to succeed in the industry? “I do have that thought in my mind, but I can’t say that I’ll be as successful or more than them. I can hope and try my very best to get there. The audience’s perception of you is important — if they like you, they like you, which leads to more opportunities. Today’s audience is very smart and vocal about their opinions, and I respect that. So, failure does terrify me, but I have an amazing support system,” she replies.

As she signs off, Avantika notes, “Cinema is a very unpredictable industry for everyone, including actors. You can be successful one day, and the next day, you’re not. Or, off the bat, you are nobody. Personally, I want to act for as long as I can and give it my best every single time.”

South star Khushboo Sundar returned to Hindi cinema after 22 years with director Anil Sharma’s Vanvaas (2024). It won’t be too long before we see her again as she is doing another Bollywood film. Keen to continue building a diverse filmography, the actor mentions that she rejects more movies than she accepts, across languages. Sometimes, it’s the reverse as well. “There are times when I am rejected. It’s a part of the process,” says the senior actor, who has had a 45-year career spanning Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films.

If things had gone as per her wishes, Sundar would have featured as Ranveer Singh’s mother in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani (2015). But she recalls that her audition didn’t make the cut, and Tanvi Azmi bagged the role. “My girls keep cursing me for [losing out on] it,” she laughs, before adding, “It was a brilliant role. But they said I didn’t fit it. Tanvi was outstanding in it and won the National Award as well. When the casting director makes a choice, s/he is clear about it. I remember they had said that I didn’t look negative, and old enough to play Ranveer’s mother.”

Besides being a politician, Sundar has been among the leading stars in the Tamil film industry. While many may believe that stars and auditions don’t go hand-in-hand, she harbours no such misguided notions. “I don’t look at myself as a star. My daughter has turned producer, and I’m starring in her maiden production. She won’t cast me if she thinks I don’t fit the role. You can’t say, ‘I won’t audition because I’m a star’. Even Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts audition for parts. So, why not us?”