“I didn’t grow up chasing fame. I grew up creating—with my hands, my voice, and my emotions. From a young age, I was drawn to anything that let me express myself: dance, music, art, acting.

My father, Dr. Rajaram Bidkikar, is a general physician and paediatrician. He runs his own clinic in Hyderabad at Seethaphalmandi and Uppal with the aim of providing affordable healthcare for all. He always stood by me, no matter what I chose. That kind of support makes you unafraid to try. My mother, Prabha Rani, is a homemaker with an artistic hand. She taught me to notice the smallest details, something that later became crucial in my journey.

I studied in different schools across Hyderabad. In ninth standard, I visited the ISKCON temple for the first time and had darshan of Lord Jagannath. Later, during a Rath Yatra, I thought I had missed the darshan because I was still in class. Heartbroken, I cycled home. But my uncle took me to the Rath Yatra, and to my surprise, I reached just as the chariot began to move. It felt like Krishna was waiting for me.

Since then, I’ve felt His presence in every step of my life, and my connection with Him has only grown stronger.

While pursuing my undergrad, I got shortlisted by an MNC. However, after joining, I quickly realised it wasn’t the right fit for me. That’s when I turned to theatre arts.

At 18, I joined the Samahaara Theatre Group and started working backstage. I learnt how silence, timing, and presence shape a performance. Later, I got opportunities to act in multiple plays. Someone spotted me during one of those performances and referred me for modelling. Ramp shows followed, then TV auditions. Eventually, I was cast in Daawat-e-Ishq by Yash Raj Films.

I once told Lord Krishna, “By the time I turn 25, I want to see myself on screen.” On my 25th birthday, I was watching myself on screen, sitting in a theatre with my entire family. I cried. My family was equally emotional. For them, it wasn’t just a film — it was the outcome of years of continuous effort, belief, and patience coming together in that moment. My maternal grandmother, KB Varsha, supported me right from my childhood. She was the first to call me a “hero” and continues to encourage me. She’s always the first to respond to my art videos on social media.

I acted in two Telugu serials: Puttinti Pattu Cheera and Antahpuram. Around the same time, my uncles who are contractors/ producers, Mr. Vijay Karan, Mr. Kaushal Karan (an engineer and a lawyer), and Mr. Anil Karan started VKA Films. They offered me lead roles in two of their films: Aakatayi and Ego.

In Aakatayi, I played a young engineering student in a layered story. In Ego, I portrayed a village boy and had to learn the Godavari slang. I spent time listening to people and fine-tuning the dialect. Aakatayi was appreciated for its music and story, while Ego was praised for its performances and struck a chord with younger audiences.

After that, I received several scripts, but none of them felt right. So I decided to take a break from acting for a while. Looking back, I know that was the right decision.

Over time, the views on my films have kept increasing on social media and OTT platforms. Even now, when I step out — sometimes even outside Hyderabad — people recognise me for my work. That’s always a sweet experience.

During the lockdown, I got into painting. Before that, my friend Prakash Garg, who’s from Chhattisgarh, had come to Hyderabad to design the interiors of our home. While working together, I got exposed to wall textures, colour palettes, and space design. That’s where my interest in visual aesthetics began to grow.

Later, I experimented with a few murals, including an 8×10 ft elephant mural with my cousins. After our home was complete, Prakash and I painted murals on a few walls during the lockdown. We posted some reels online, and unexpectedly, they went viral. That’s when people started noticing the work. Enquiries began — first for murals, then for canvas paintings too.

Since then, I’ve painted for elite homes in India — actors, working professionals, and art lovers. These are people who either have a keen eye for art or want something meaningful on their walls. I began to work on both large-scale murals and canvas pieces depending on the need. A lot of the work is devotional or nature-based, with influences from Pichwai and other contemporary styles. Some clients request Vastu-based placements, and I suggest themes accordingly: cows, peacocks, mountains, trees — each carrying its own energy.

Before beginning any painting, I say a simple prayer: “Krishna, please keep Your honour.” Some days I start work in the morning and go on till late at night without even noticing the time. It never feels like work. Just looking at how many colours exist in a single leaf changes how you see the world — and yourself.

Though I haven’t taken up any new acting projects since my earlier films, I’m always open to meaningful stories that leave a mark.

On 23rd November 2023, I took Deeksha from His Holiness Ved Vyas Priya Maharaj. That one step brought structure to my life: daily chanting, spiritual discipline, and purpose. Many of my artworks now come from that space, where devotion meets expression.

I’ve gone through uncertain and lonely phases, but Krishna has always sent the right people at the right time. Not many, but they were enough. My parents, my sister Priyanka, my grandparents, my uncles, my aunts, cousins, friends — some gave me walls to paint on, some became clients, some just silently supported me. I also want to thank everyone else who has supported me on this journey, even if I might be forgetting some names right now. They all played a part.

From theatre stages to film sets, from sketchbooks to real walls and canvas — what I’ve always followed is the process. Whether it’s a painting or a role, I try to stay honest to the moment and let it speak on its own. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

— Aashish Raj Bidkikar