Medium may change, but an actor's commitment remains constant

...says actor Kushee Ravi on stepping into ZEE5's first Kannada web series, Ayyana Mane, a mystery thriller set in the '90s

- Kushee Ravi

USHEE Ravi, who rose to fame with the heartrending film Dia, is stepping into new territory with Ayyana Mane, ZEE5's first original Kannada web series. For an actor who values rehearsals, method acting, and staying true to the script, this shift to OTT is as thoughtful as it is thrilling. "I wasn't fully prepared for OTT," Kushee says honestly. "But Dia got noticed only after its OTT run. That's when other industries began noticing me too. So yes, I do understand its power."

Does she see OTT as the future? "Partially," she reflects. "The theatre experience can't be replicated at home. But we have to evolve with the times. I'm aligning with the present."

Everything about Ayyana Mane felt fresh—a new format, a new schedule, a new mindset. "When director Ramesh Indira approached me, he didn't even mention it was a web series," she recalls. "He simply said, 'Come hear a narration.' I was on my toes. He's such a phenomenal actor—and what many don't realize is how unique he is as a director too."