(April 2, 2026) Drishika Chander grew up on film sets, watching her mother Deepa Chander, a formidable presence in cinema as costume designer, character stylist and art director — with over 200 projects and a Nandi Award to her name.
It ended up with Drishika getting multiple film offers while she was still in school. But Deepa wanted her daughter to focus on education first, live abroad on her own, discover herself and then choose her career.
Drishika followed her mother’s advice, travelled to the US for education and returned to India to become an actor. Now, she is making waves in the Telugu Film industry. “Once I got back to India, I got into theatre. I actually wanted to see if I had any talent to start with. One thing just led to another and movies happened,” smiles Drishika, in a chat with Global Indian. Today, her journey winds through the fashion studios of New York, the runways of Alexander McQueen, and a Guinness World Record-winning film that was both Oscar and BAFTA qualified.
Finding herself in New York
Living in Manhattan, New York and studying at Parsons School of Design was nothing short of magic, says Drishika. “For a shy girl like me, I learnt a lot,” smiles the actor, who describes New York as a home away from home.
Studying and living in NY pushed her out of her comfort zone. “A lot of my growing up happened there. I thrived even under pressure, became a lot more independent, confident.”
From Parsons to the runway
Her time at Parsons was as demanding as it was transformative. Interning with global fashion houses like Alexander McQueen, Mara Hoffman and Michael Kors, she immersed herself in a world where storytelling took shape through fabric, form and detail.
But more than the work, it was the exposure to people, pace and perspective — that transformed her. In many ways, it quietly prepared her for acting.
Guinness Book of Records
Drishika’s filmi career began with theatre. Her performance in Evam Indrajeet, where she embodied six different shades of a woman — became her first real test, one that demanded emotional depth, discipline and surrender.
It was here that she was discovered for the Telugu romantic short film — Manasanamaha — in 2022. Interestingly, she didn’t know Telugu at all when she sent her first audition and was rejected outright. But the director, struck by her acting skills on meeting her in person, reconsidered — and the rest is history. The 16 minute-24 second movie officially entered the Guinness Book of Records for most awards won by a short film. “My performance earned me over 40 International Best Actress awards,” smiles Drishika. The film was screened at various film festivals, received many accolades, and was both Oscar and BAFTA qualified. “It still feels surreal. You grow up hearing these names and then, suddenly, they are part of your journey,” she smiles.
More film assignments
Drishika then went on to play a village girl in the Telugu film Bucchinaidu Kandriga and the Story of a Beautiful Girl. She also did a Hindi film, Hey Kameeni directed by well known film maker Manishanker.
Suyodhana
Her new film Suyodhana — a mystery thriller has got released on March 27. “It’s not a loud character. The challenging part was conveying so much without saying too much,” says Drishika, who is fluent in multiple languages.
“Every film I’ve worked on, has been a new experience for me. It’s been a fun journey, taking myself out of my comfort zone, understanding the depth and layers of each of my characters and having the opportunity to be them on screen.”
Legacy
Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Drishika grew up in a family where legacy and creativity coexisted seamlessly. Her paternal grandfather, late Dr P Ramchander, a pioneering ophthalmologist and founder of Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, was once the doctor of Nizam, the former ruler of Hyderabad.
Her mother Deepa was born and brought up in Nigeria. She moved to Hyderabad in 1986 and the city has been her home ever since. Drishika’s father was into construction business. “Growing up, I was a very shy girl but playful at home,” recalls Drishika, who loved playing Tennis, swimming, harmonium lessons and art classes. Watching television was rare.
Upcoming projects
Talking of her upcoming projects, Drishika is working on another Telugu film besides performing in a Hyderabadi comedy play called Miya Biwi Ke Mantakha. “We are currently touring with this play across India and planning to take it internationally as well,” says the actor, who recently did two shows in Bangalore and plans to dub for herself in Telugu.
When not working
Off-screen, Drishika’s world is just as textured. She paints, swims, dances and likes kick boxing as well. “I am the epitome of a creative person. I constantly like to keep myself occupied and love creating things,” says the actor, whose family home is filled with art work made by her and other family members.
The actor is a dog lover and has had pets ever since she was little. “There was a time we had almost 36 dogs at home. Gradually, the number came down to eight and now we have two dogs,” says Drishika, who is also a certified open water diver.
She finds comfort in the simplest rituals — a glass of milk at the end of a long day and gift-wrapping with ribbons and detail. “I enjoy collecting vintage brooches, club badges and tie pins. I have lots of them from my grandfather’s collection and love making them part of my outfits.”
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