Avantika Makes History as Disney’s First Indian Lead Film Actress
Avantika Vandanapu is Disney’s newest rising star. The young actress, 16, will be starring in a new coming of age Disney film, Spin. Rhea (Avantika) is an average 15-year-old girl who has a lot on her plate: juggling school, extracurriculars, and working the family business. The teen discovers her love of deejaying while balancing her hectic life.
We need more #Avantika and @AbhayDeol on Disney Channel 😁 #Spin was great 😁
— Aplam chaplam (@aplamchaplam007) August 14, 2021
In an interview with Teen Vogue, the actress explained her excitement for the movie.
“I’m really excited to be following in the footsteps of so many inspirational figures in my life. It’s just a lot of excitement and happiness and feeling really, really lucky. Those are the kind of emotions that I’m associating. I’m not super nervous about it because I feel like I did my work, and I feel like I did my best job. And now, I’m just really excited to kind of see the response and be able to see this film manifest into whatever it is going to be.”
So grateful to watch the premiere of @Disney‘s SPIN and meet lead actor Avantika Vandanapu and director @manjari87! TY for bringing authentic, well-rounded South Asian representation to Disney & for making a movie thru which so many people can feel seen. ❤ Watch SPIN August 13! pic.twitter.com/I42z2VJatJ
— Ishika Muchhal (@IshikaMuchhal) August 11, 2021
#Avantika has come SOO far in her time with @Disney. Proud of her even more for this Final Jam.#DisneySpin #SpinMovie pic.twitter.com/XvQsbIjGiD
— @Splash Lights Photos (Back in the Game For Now) (@Two_Cams25) August 14, 2021
Avantika admired a number of Disney stars growing up, mainly Lizzie Mcguire star Hilary Duff and live-action Aladdin actress Naomi Scott. The teen hopes to be a role model for young girls.
“It truly is a dream come true” to be able to represent the South Asian community in this way. Anybody who’s done a Disney Channel Original Movie says it’s a dream come true, but it really, really is. And I think this is such a big step for the South Asian community that I feel really, really blessed to be a part of representation on the screen.”
“I hope that me being on screen and Rhea being on screen is going to pave the way for many more South Asian roles to come in the future,” she adds. “I really want to make our community proud because this is one of those rare opportunities that we have gotten, and hopefully, we’ll get many more in the future to come.”
Furthermore, Avantika has many projects lined up. Currently, she stars in the Disney Junior show Mira, Royal Detective, and will join Rebel Wilson in the movie Senior Year. In addition, she’s working on a book she hopes to adapt into a movie. Spin released Friday, August 13, and will be on again on Thursday, August 19 at 8 pm pacific time.
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