Ritika Nayak Says Telugu Cinema Is Her First Priority: “I Want People to Remember My Acting”

Actor Ritika Nayak is steadily carving a place for herself in Telugu cinema by choosing roles that offer variety over volume. Ahead of the release of Korean Kanakaraju, the actor says her focus remains firmly on Telugu films, even as she remains open to opportunities in other South Indian industries.

After making her debut with Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam (2022), Ritika Nayak has built a reputation for carefully selecting projects rather than rushing into multiple films. Her latest outing, Korean Kanakaraju, pairs her opposite Varun Tej in a horror-comedy directed by Merlapaka Gandhi and produced by UV Creations.

Ritika Nayak Was Excited to Be Part of Korean Kanakaraju

Speaking about the film, Ritika revealed that the story immediately caught her attention. She joked that one of the biggest attractions was getting the opportunity to visit South Korea through the project.

Her character, Chaitra, works for a Korean company and shares a deep interest in Korean culture—something Ritika relates to personally.

“I enjoy watching Korean dramas and films, so there are quite a few similarities between me and Chaitra,” she shared.

The film was shot across multiple locations, including Hyderabad, Anantapur, Kazakhstan and South Korea.

A Different Character in Every Film

Ritika believes in avoiding repetitive roles and says every film in her career has allowed her to explore a new personality.

She pointed out that:

• In Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam, she played a village girl.
• In Hi Nanna, she appeared in a brief but distinctive role.
• In Mirai, she portrayed a spiritually inclined character.
• In Korean Kanakaraju, she plays an independent, cheerful and modern young woman.

According to the actor, exploring different characters helps her grow as a performer.

Quality Over Quantity

Despite appearing in only a handful of films, Ritika says she has no regrets about taking long breaks between projects.

She explained that she prefers waiting for scripts she genuinely connects with rather than signing films simply to stay busy.

“I only choose characters I believe I can do complete justice to,” she said, adding that audience appreciation matters more than the number of releases.

Telugu Cinema Remains Her First Choice

Although Ritika hails from Delhi and has roots in Odisha, she considers Telugu cinema her professional home.

She shared that she now understands Telugu quite well, even though she is still working on speaking the language fluently.

“My first priority is Telugu cinema because it is my mother industry. I feel very comfortable here,” she said.

At the same time, she expressed interest in working in Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films if the right opportunities come along.

Working With Varun Tej

Ritika praised co-star Varun Tej for his professionalism and commitment during filming.

She recalled that even after suffering an injury, Varun continued reporting to the sets early in the morning and worked long hours to complete the shoot.

His dedication, she said, made a strong impression on her.

Learning Comedy From Satya

Since Korean Kanakaraju is a horror-comedy, Ritika admitted that comic timing was a relatively new challenge.

She credited comedian Satya for helping her understand the rhythm of comedy scenes.

She also praised fellow actors VTV Ganesh and Bulli Raju, saying audiences can expect plenty of entertaining moments throughout the film.

Belief in Destiny

Ritika was recently linked to a project from which she was reportedly replaced. Addressing the speculation, she chose to remain philosophical.

She said she believes everything happens according to destiny and that every setback eventually leads to a better opportunity.

Rather than dwelling on disappointments, she prefers focusing on future projects.

Looking Ahead

Apart from Korean Kanakaraju, Ritika confirmed she is part of another film that differs completely from her previous work, though she chose not to reveal details before the official announcement.

She also mentioned that discussions about a sequel to Mirai are still in the early stages.

Ultimately, Ritika says her ambition extends beyond commercial success.

“I want audiences to remember me for my performances. I want people to say that I am a good actor—not just that I look good,” she said.

With carefully chosen roles and a growing presence in Telugu cinema, Ritika Nayak continues to establish herself as one of the industry’s promising young talents.