Nayan Sarika on Vishnu Vinyasam and Her Career: ‘I Want to Explore Different Roles and Tell New Stories’

Nayan Sarika is looking to build her career around characters that offer something beyond the conventional image of a leading actress. After making her mark with films including Aay and KA, the actor is now preparing for another release with Vishnu Vinyasam, in which she stars opposite Sree Vishnu.

Directed by Yadunaath Maruthi Rao, the film presents Nayan in the role of Manisha, a Mathematics lecturer whose relationship with Sree Vishnu’s character forms the emotional centre of the story.

For Nayan, the project is another opportunity to explore a character with a different personality and emotional journey.

Nayan Sarika plays a Mathematics lecturer in Vishnu Vinyasam

In Vishnu Vinyasam, Nayan plays Manisha, a Mathematics lecturer working at the same college as Sree Vishnu’s character.

Although both characters are connected through their profession, the film primarily revolves around their relationship and the circumstances that bring them closer.

Nayan describes Manisha as a mature woman who has experienced difficulties and is searching for stability in her life.

Interestingly, the actor says her real-life personality is quite different from that of the character.

The character is also expected to divide audience opinion initially. Nayan explained that viewers may find Manisha difficult to like during the first half because of the way she treats the hero.

As the story progresses, however, her motivations become clearer, allowing the audience to understand why she behaves the way she does.

That gradual shift in perception is one of the elements that attracted Nayan to the role.

Comedy and character development were key challenges

Nayan describes Vishnu Vinyasam as a complete entertainer, meaning that comic timing plays an important part in the film.

Rather than undergoing extensive preparation before filming, she relied on director Yadunaath Maruthi Rao’s guidance.

The actor said they discussed Manisha’s character arc before individual scenes, helping her understand how the character needed to evolve as the story progressed.

For Nayan, maintaining the right balance between comedy and the emotional aspects of Manisha was an important part of the performance.

From Gam Gam Ganesha to leading roles

Nayan made her acting debut with Gam Gam Ganesha and subsequently appeared in Aay and KA.

Her performances in the latter films helped her gain greater recognition, while the roles also allowed her to portray characters from different settings.

In Aay, she played a Godavari girl, while KA required her to step into a period setting.

That variety has encouraged Nayan to look for characters that challenge her rather than simply repeating a familiar screen image.

She also received a Best Debut Female Actor award, an achievement she says gave her confidence at an early stage of her career.

For a performer beginning her journey in a competitive industry, early recognition can provide encouragement to continue taking creative risks.

Nayan Sarika wants roles beyond glamour

Nayan is clear about the kind of work she hopes to pursue as her career develops.

Although several of the scripts coming her way have comedy elements, she says she is not deliberately limiting herself to that genre.

Her larger ambition is to play different kinds of characters and find roles that provide opportunities to perform.

“Not just glamour, I look for performance-oriented roles that feel fresh and new,” she said.

For Nayan, the changing expectations of theatrical audiences are also influencing the kind of stories she wants to be associated with.

She believes audiences increasingly look for novelty, entertainment, twists and strong storytelling when deciding which films to watch in theatres.

That makes the script and the strength of the character her primary considerations.

Learning Telugu on the job

Originally from Maharashtra, Nayan says she had wanted to become an actor from a young age.

She did not undergo formal acting training. Her entry into the entertainment industry began when a photographer who was a family acquaintance asked her to pose for a portfolio during a visit to her aunt’s home.

The photographs eventually led to opportunities in the Telugu industry.

Nayan has also worked on developing her Telugu through regular interaction with cast and crew members.

She says she can understand the language and speak it to an extent, although she does not consider herself fluent yet.

For Vishnu Vinyasam, however, she was unable to provide her own dubbing because of other professional commitments.

A difficult night shoot tested Nayan

One of Nayan’s more demanding experiences came during the filming of a rain sequence in Visakhapatnam.

The sequence was shot at a beach during a winter night and reportedly continued for almost seven hours.

The production faced additional difficulties when the water tanks ran out. Just as the team was close to completing the sequence, natural rain created a continuity problem.

The crew eventually had to wait for the rain to stop before continuing.

For Nayan, shooting at night near the sea while dealing with the weather and the precautions required for filming equipment made the sequence particularly challenging.

It remains one of the experiences she remembers most strongly from the production.

What is next for Nayan Sarika?

Nayan has several projects lined up as she continues to establish herself in South Indian cinema.

Her next release mentioned alongside Vishnu Vinyasam is Rakasa, a fantasy comedy, while she has also signed a Kannada film.

The actor says her immediate priority is cinema, even though she began her career with a web series.

Rather than rushing to build a large filmography, she wants to use her choices to create a distinct identity.

Her journey so far has taken her from a debut role to characters rooted in different cultures, periods and genres. With Vishnu Vinyasam, she is now looking to add another shade to that progression.