Ritika Nayak says Telugu cinema remains her first priority ahead of Korean Kanakaraju release

Mirai actor Ritika Nayak is gearing up for the release of her next Telugu film, Korean Kanakaraju, a horror-comedy starring Varun Tej. Ahead of the film’s theatrical release on August 7, the actor spoke about her career choices, love for Telugu cinema, working with Varun Tej, and why she believes quality roles matter more than doing multiple films every year.

Ritika also shared why she feels deeply connected to her character in the upcoming entertainer and revealed that she hopes audiences remember her for her performances rather than just her appearance.

Ritika found an instant connection with Korean Kanakaraju

Ritika recalled that she was immediately excited after director Merlapaka Gandhi narrated the story.

She revealed that one of the biggest attractions was the opportunity to shoot in Korea, a country she has long admired through its popular dramas and films.

According to the actor, her on-screen character, Chaitra, works for a Korean company and shares a fascination with Korean culture, making the role feel surprisingly personal.

She added that Chaitra is an independent, cheerful and modern young woman, making the character completely different from the roles she has portrayed previously.

Choosing different roles over playing it safe

Since making her debut with Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam, Ritika has consciously avoided repeating similar characters.

She pointed out that her debut featured her as a village girl, followed by a monk-like character in another project, while Korean Kanakaraju presents her in a contemporary role.

The actor believes experimenting with different characters is essential for growth and wants every project to showcase a new side of her abilities.

Why she doesn’t mind long gaps between films

Although Ritika has appeared in only a handful of Telugu films, she says the gaps between projects are intentional.

Rather than accepting every offer, she prefers waiting for scripts she genuinely believes in.

According to Ritika, she only signs projects where she feels she can fully justify the character and deliver her best performance.

She believes audiences ultimately remember quality work more than the number of films an actor releases each year.

Working with Varun Tej

Speaking about co-star Varun Tej, Ritika praised his commitment to filmmaking.

She recalled that despite recovering from an injury, the actor continued attending shoots early in the morning and worked long hours to complete patchwork scenes.

She described the experience of working alongside him as enjoyable and inspiring.

A horror comedy with a fresh twist

Korean Kanakaraju blends supernatural elements with comedy while bringing together Indian and Korean cultural influences.

Ritika believes the unique concept helps the film stand apart from other horror comedies.

The film also stars Satya, VTV Ganesh and Bulli Raju, whose comic timing, she says, adds significantly to the entertainment.

She also credited Satya for helping her improve her comic timing during filming.

Staying grounded despite growing success

Despite the success of films like Mirai, Ritika continues to maintain a relatively low profile on social media.

She describes herself as naturally shy and introverted, explaining that she prefers concentrating on her craft instead of constantly seeking attention online.

For the actor, appreciation from audiences for her performances remains the most meaningful measure of success.

Telugu cinema comes first

Originally from Delhi with roots in Odisha, Ritika says she now understands Telugu well, although she is still working on speaking the language fluently.

She considers the Telugu film industry her “mother industry” and says it will always remain her first priority.

While she is open to acting in Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films in the future, she plans to expand into those industries only when the right scripts come her way.

Looking ahead

Ritika also addressed reports about being replaced in a recent project, saying she believes everything happens according to destiny and prefers not to dwell on setbacks.

She remains optimistic about the future and revealed that she is already working on another film that will be very different from her previous projects.

Although fans are eager for a sequel to Mirai, she confirmed that it is still in the early stages of development and too soon to discuss.

As she prepares for Korean Kanakaraju, Ritika says her biggest ambition is simple—to build a career where audiences remember her as a talented performer capable of exploring every genre.