This love is enough for life,’ says Ananthika Sanilkumar as 8 Vasanthalu completes 50 days

As 8 Vasanthalu completes 50 days, actor Ananthika Sanilkumar reflects on the film’s emotional impact, her personal journey, and the unwavering love that continues to pour in from the audience.

Hyderabad: Some stories don’t scream to be heard: they whisper, they hold your hand, and they stay with you. 8 Vasanthalu, which recently completed 50 days, is one such rare film. Without fanfare, it made its way into the hearts of thousands, especially women, who saw their own unspoken emotions reflected through the character of Shuddhi. In an exclusive with Telangana Today, actor Ananthika Sanilkumar opens up about the film’s journey, the love that’s still pouring in, and why this role will always remain personal.

“I’ve never experienced something like this before,” she says. “Even today in Bengaluru, a grandma came up to me and spoke with so much affection after watching the film. It’s overwhelming. And the messages: women telling me how they saw their stories in Shuddhi, that kind of connection is rare.”

Ananthika still remembers reading the script on a flight to Hyderabad. “I just knew, this is what I want to do. I prayed for it. People told me not to take it up, said it was too female-driven, that I was too fresh. But I saw something in the story. Even on release day, I was nervous someone might say, ‘Why her?’ But no one did. That silence meant everything.”

The journey wasn’t smooth. When Mythri Movies first put out the casting call, she was still in the middle of writing her +2 exams. “Dates didn’t work out, but they waited. That itself was a blessing.” She adds, “I’ve done other commercial films before, but this one… this one is personal. I didn’t just act, I felt it. I saw myself in Shuddhi.”

Currently in law school, Ananthika is managing shoots and studies together. “It’s hard sometimes. But we all have time, we just need to make space for what matters.” Even with a long-standing spine injury since Class 10, she’s back to her martial arts training. “It affects me when I stand too long, but this film gave me the strength to restart.”

Behind her quiet confidence is a family that stood like a rock. “My mother had to let go of her own dreams in art because of financial constraints. But when it came to me, she never said no. She supported every single step, whether it was choosing acting or studying law. My parents even took loans to fund my dance training and stage performances. That kind of support, I can never repay. I’m just grateful.”

She also credits her director Phanindra Narsetti and the team for creating a space where every emotion was treated with care. “Nothing was rushed, no line was taken lightly. Even a single word had to come out right. That sort of focus, I haven’t seen elsewhere.”

As she continues to receive messages from viewers who were moved by her performance, Ananthika shares one thought that keeps returning to her. “Everyone is healing from something. And we rarely talk about it. But healing is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”

With dreams of doing powerful love stories, action films, exploring her love for vintage cinema from the ’80s and ’90s, and even stepping into politics someday, Ananthika says she wants to be “an all-rounder in acting, in art, in life.”

And what about now? “This love I’m receiving, the messages, the warmth, the way people are holding on to this film, it’s enough for a lifetime,” she says overwhelmed .