“I’ve always been drawn to arts and literature. In school, I was that student who’d sign up for every cultural activity—mono acts, skits, poetry recitals, stage performances. The stage felt familiar, like home.

I grew up in Khammam, Telangana, in a modest household. My father was a government employee, and my mother took care of everything at home. Education was always a priority, but so was curiosity. I was fascinated by media. Over time, I tried my hand at everything I could—reading news for local channels, anchoring events, doing voice-overs.

One opportunity led to another, and slowly, I found my way into theatre, acting in character roles and writing scripts. Right now, I’m pursuing a PhD in Telugu literature from Osmania University. My research focuses on the lives and voices of women writers from Telangana.

One question that keeps me going is: were the women around me, like my mother and our neighbours, ever truly represented in literature? That thought pushed me to dig deeper.

Theatre became a turning point. Unlike TV, there were no retakes. Just you, the spotlight, and your truth. I fell in love with that honesty. It wasn’t always easy. My family hadn’t imagined a future for me in the entertainment world. But I kept going, step by step.

Then came the Cinema. Small character roles, voice over work. I began to realise my voice wasn’t just something I used. It was something that could carry stories and make people feel something.

Of course, there were moments of doubt. But each time, I reminded myself of the independence I earned early on, juggling work and responsibilities. That strength has stayed with me.

Now I juggle theatre, voice-overs, films, anchoring, and my PhD. Some people ask me how I manage it all. But for me, it’s not about doing too much. It’s one continuous journey. It started with a love for voices. And somewhere along the way, I found mine.”

Tejaswi, PhD student, Osmania University
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