Avantika (actress)
{{short description|American actress (born 2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Avantika
| image = Avantika Headshot.jpg
| caption = Avantika in 2021
| birth_name = Avantika Vandanapu
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2005|1|25}}
| birth_place = Union City, California, United States
| education = Columbia University
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2015–present
| website = {{URL|iamavantika.com}}
}}
Avantika Vandanapu ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|v|ɑː|n|t|ɪ|k|ə}} {{respell|ə|VAHN|ti|kə}}; {{IPA|te|aʋantika ʋandanapu|lang}}; born January 25, 2005), known mononymously as Avantika, is an American actress and singer. She began her career with the 2016 Telugu film Brahmotsavam and later took on several other projects within Telugu cinema.
She then transitioned to American cinema and had her first lead role in the Disney Channel original movie Spin (2021) and subsequently starred in Netflix's Senior Year (2022). Avantika gained recognition with supporting roles in the musical comedy Mean Girls and horror film Tarot (both 2024).
Early and personal life
Avantika Vandanapu was born to an Indian Telugu family in Union City, California, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, on January 25, 2005.{{Cite web |title=Avantika |url=https://www.iamavantika.com/ |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=Avantika |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jhunjhunwala |first=Udita |date=August 18, 2021 |title=Spin actor Avantika on Disney Channel film being a win for South Asian community, her acting icons, and career aspirations |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/spin-actor-avantika-on-disney-channel-film-being-a-win-for-south-asian-community-her-acting-icons-and-career-aspirations-9895221.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144624/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/spin-actor-avantika-on-disney-channel-film-being-a-win-for-south-asian-community-her-acting-icons-and-career-aspirations-9895221.html |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=August 18, 2021 |website=Firstpost}}{{Cite web|last=Kalanidhi|first=Manju Latha|date=August 22, 2021|title=Girl on fire: Telugu ammayi from LA Avantika Vandanapu hailed as breakout star of Disney's 'Spin'|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/english/2021/aug/22/girl-on-fire-teluguammayi-from-la-avantika-vandanapu-hailed-as-breakout-star-of-disneys-spin-2347143.html|url-status=live|website=The New Indian Express|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823082353/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/english/2021/aug/22/girl-on-fire-teluguammayi-from-la-avantika-vandanapu-hailed-as-breakout-star-of-disneys-spin-2347143.html |archive-date=August 23, 2021 }} Her family originally hails from Hyderabad in India before they emigrated to the United States. She took drama lessons at the American Conservatory Theater.{{Cite web|last=Belle|first=Nithin|date=August 28, 2021|title=Dubai is favourite city for Indian-American showbiz star Avantika Vandanapu|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/dubai-is-favourite-city-for-indian-american-showbiz-star-avantika-vandanapu|url-status=live|website=Khaleej Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828072223/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/dubai-is-favourite-city-for-indian-american-showbiz-star-avantika-vandanapu |archive-date=August 28, 2021 }}
Avantika currently resides in New York City.{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2024 |title=Get in, loser. A brown Mean Girl is here |url=https://www.vogue.in/content/get-in-loser-a-brown-mean-girl-is-here-avantika-vandanapu |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=Vogue India |language=en-IN}} She attends Columbia University as a member of the class of 2027.{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Rachel |title=She doesn't even go here!... Oh wait, she does: Meet Avantika Vandanapu from 'Mean Girls' |url=https://www.columbiaspectator.com/arts-and-culture/2024/02/02/she-doesnt-even-go-here-oh-wait-she-does-meet-avantika-vandanapu-from-mean-girls/ |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=Columbia Daily Spectator}}
Career
=Early work in Indian cinema (2014–2016)=
In 2014, Avantika won second place in the Zee TV dance competition reality series Dance India Dance L'il Masters (North America Edition).{{cite web |date=August 13, 2014 |title=Avantika Vandanapu from Union City was selected as one of the top ten finalists out of more than 10,000 contestants |url=http://www.tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2014-08-19&file=AvantikaVandanapu+265TSP+++TCV.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521104449/http://www.tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2014-08-19&file=AvantikaVandanapu+265TSP+++TCV.txt |archive-date=May 21, 2015 |website=Tri-City Voice |publisher=}}
Avantika entered Telugu cinema in 2015 and was signed for two movies. She was selected to play the role of Chutki in 14 Reels Entertainment's Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha (2016), however, scheduling conflicts forced her to leave during production. Avantika officially debuted as a child artist in Brahmotsavam (2016) starring Mahesh Babu. She then appeared in Chandra Shekhar Yeleti's film Manamantha. Later, she signed on for Premam starring Naga Chaitanya and Shruti Hassan, in which she portrayed the younger version of Madonna Sebastian's character.{{Cite web |title=Avantika Vandanapu Indian American Actress {{!}} Tollywood to Hollywood |url=https://www.globalindian.com/story/indian-origin/avantika-vandanapu-in-disney-channel-film/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=The Global Indian |language=en-US |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114003730/https://www.globalindian.com/story/indian-origin/avantika-vandanapu-in-disney-channel-film/ |url-status=live }} Avantika revealed that the key reason for her departure from Telugu cinema was the lack of variety in the roles she was offered which mainly consisted of playing the "childhood of heroine" or a supporting role.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title="Mahesh Babu is down to earth, great actor": Avantika Vandanapu |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/parties-and-events/photos-ridhima-pandit-spotted-bandra/mahesh-babu-is-down-to-earth-great-actor-avantika-vandanapu-disney-spin-burning-ques-ep-12/ |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Bollywood Hungama |language=en}}
= Breakthrough in American cinema (2021–present) =
In 2021, Avantika debuted into American cinema by playing the lead role of Rhea Kumar, a headstrong high school student with aspirations of becoming a DJ in the Disney Channel Original Movie Spin.{{Cite web|title=Spin movie review: Avantika Vandanapu, Abhay Deol film is a welcome deviation from typical high school flicks|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/entertainmenttopstories/spin-movie-review-avantika-vandanapu-abhay-deol-film-is-a-welcome-deviation-from-typical-high-school-flicks/ar-AANmpQs|access-date=August 23, 2021|website=www.msn.com|archive-date=August 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823081341/https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/entertainmenttopstories/spin-movie-review-avantika-vandanapu-abhay-deol-film-is-a-welcome-deviation-from-typical-high-school-flicks/ar-AANmpQs|url-status=live}} The film, along with her performance, had a positive reception from Udita Jhunjhunwala of Firstpost who described her as a "delight" and took note of her "sparkling eyes, as she glides through the restaurant with as much ease as she finds her groove behind the mixing console".{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2021 |title=Spin movie review: Avantika Vandanapu, Abhay Deol film is a welcome deviation from typical high school flicks |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/spin-movie-review-avantika-vandanapu-abhay-deol-film-is-a-welcome-deviation-from-typical-high-school-flicks-9888921.html |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=Firstpost |language=en |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819042241/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/spin-movie-review-avantika-vandanapu-abhay-deol-film-is-a-welcome-deviation-from-typical-high-school-flicks-9888921.html |url-status=live }} She followed this with supporting roles in the unremarkable Netflix original films Moxie and Senior Year (2022).{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Angelique |date=July 16, 2021 |title=Jade Bender, Michael Cimino, Jeremy Ray Taylor and Avantika Join Paramount Players' 'Senior Year'(EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/senior-year-rebel-wilson-jade-bender-michael-cimino-1235021598/amp/ |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website= Variety}}
In 2024, Avantika portrayed Karen Shetty in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls, based on the 2004 movie of the same name.{{cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=February 8, 2023 |title='Mean Girls': Avantika, Christopher Briney & Bebe Wood Board Paramount Film Based On Tony-Nominated Musical Adaptation |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/mean-girls-the-musical-film-adds-avantika-christopher-briney-bebe-wood-1235253619/amp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208210143/https://deadline.com/2023/02/mean-girls-the-musical-film-adds-avantika-christopher-briney-bebe-wood-1235253619/amp/ |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |website=Deadline.com}} She had to take a "temporary leave of absence" from university to accommodate the timings required for shooting.{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Chandreyee |date=April 8, 2024 |title="It's a shock for any brown parent": 'Mean Girls' actress Avantika Vandanapu on the driving forces behind her rise to stardom |url=https://vogue.sg/avantika-vandanapu-profile/ |access-date=September 30, 2024 |website=Vogue Singapore |language=en-US}} Avantika discussed the change in Karen's ethnicity from the original film, stating that "playing that kind of character, especially as an Indian American woman, is really, really crazy". She added that she was "excited to finally play a South Asian character that wasn’t reduced to being a stereotype".{{Cite web |last=Kulkarni |first=Bhargavi |date=February 4, 2024 |title=The Desi Mean Girl: A Conversation With Avantika Vandanapu Who Breaks Stereotypes in the New Version of Iconic Film |url=https://americankahani.com/celebrities/the-desi-mean-girl-a-conversation-with-avantika-vandanapu-who-breaks-stereotypes-in-the-new-version-of-iconic-film/ |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=American Kahani |language=en}} The film received mixed reviews from critics, however, her performance was well received.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Chris |date=January 12, 2024 |title='Mean Girls' musical reboot described as "snappy" yet "culturally irrelevant" in mixed reviews |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/mean-girls-musical-reboot-described-as-snappy-yet-culturally-irrelevant-in-mixed-reviews-3569878 |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112132154/https://www.nme.com/news/film/mean-girls-musical-reboot-described-as-snappy-yet-culturally-irrelevant-in-mixed-reviews-3569878 |url-status=live }} Writing for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw commended Avantika as the standout "amongst the mean girls".{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=January 10, 2024 |title=Mean Girls review – high-school sadism comedy as sugar-rush movie musical |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/10/mean-girls-review-high-school-sadism-comedy-as-sugar-rush-movie-musical-tina-fey |access-date=January 14, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114184406/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/10/mean-girls-review-high-school-sadism-comedy-as-sugar-rush-movie-musical-tina-fey |url-status=live }} Mean Girls emerged as a commercial success, which led to The Times of India crediting the film with helping establish her presence in American cinema.{{Cite news |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=2024-01-14 |title='Mean Girls' Musical Triumphs at Box Office, With a TikTok Assist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/business/media/mean-girls-musical-box-office-tiktok.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240228141733/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/14/business/media/mean-girls-musical-box-office-tiktok.html |archive-date=2024-02-28 |access-date=2024-12-28 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |title=From child actor to global star: Avantika Vandanapu is on a roll |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/from-child-actor-to-global-star-avantika-vandanapu-is-on-a-roll/amp_articleshow/108495649.cms |access-date=August 14, 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
She returned to Indian projects with the Amazon Prime Video original series Big Girls Don't Cry. She portrayed Ludo, a closeted lesbian struggling to retain her basketball captaincy whilst coming to terms with her sexuality.{{Cite web |last=Chatterjee |first=Saibal |date=15 March 2024 |title=Big Girls Don't Cry Review: Boarding School Adventure Is Frothy, Flimsy And Fun |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/big-girls-dont-cry-review-boarding-school-adventure-is-frothy-flimsy-and-fun-2-5-stars-5242196 |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=NDTV}} In a mixed review for Film Companion, Rahul Desai criticised the number of characters in the series making it difficult to maintain focus to the nuances of each one's storyline, but praised the chemistry and performances of the cast.{{cite instagram |postid=CKdRxMuhckA |user=iamavantika |title=literally could not come up with an innovative caption to communicate that i have aged one more year! but enjoy the unnecessary life update :)) |first=avantika |date=January 24, 2021 |access-date=July 10, 2022}} The following month, Avantika appeared amongst an ensemble in the Anna Halberg and Spenser Cohen-helmed horror film Tarot.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=June 28, 2022 |title=Jacob Batalon, Alana Boden, Adain Bradley and Avantika To Star In Screen Gems' 'Horrorscope' |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/jacob-batalon-alana-boden-adain-bradley-avantika-screem-gems-horrorscope-1235053040/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606005124/https://deadline.com/2022/06/jacob-batalon-alana-boden-adain-bradley-avantika-screem-gems-horrorscope-1235053040/ |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=October 27, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} Her decision to take on the role was influenced by her mother's belief in astrology and her own early interest in the occult, as the film combined both themes.{{Cite web |last=Morrow |first=Brendan |title=Avantika talks 'Tarot' and that racist 'Tangled' backlash: 'Media literacy is a dying art' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2024/05/03/avantika-vandanapu-talks-tarot-rapunzel-backlash/73523889007/ |access-date=May 8, 2024 |website=USA Today}} Reception to the film was generally negative;{{Cite web |title=Tarot |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/tarot/ |access-date=May 8, 2024 |website=Metacritic |language=en}} in her review for Collider, Emma Kiely thought that Avantika's performance had been constrained as she "isn't given enough to do", and compared it unfavourably to her performance in Mean Girls.{{Cite web |last=Kiely |first=Emma |date=May 2, 2024 |title='Tarot' Review: A Surprisingly Scary But Ultimately Forgettable PG-13 Horror |url=https://collider.com/tarot-movie-review/ |access-date=May 8, 2024 |website=Collider}} Made on a shoestring-budget, Tarot emerged as a major commercial success.{{Cite web |last=Lammers |first=Tim |title='Tarot' Movie Makes Debut On Digital Streaming |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2024/05/28/tarot-movie-makes-debut-on-digital-streaming/ |access-date=May 28, 2024 |website=Forbes}}
Avantika is set to headline the Disney+ original series A Crown of Wishes, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Roshani Chokshi and star alongside Maddie Ziegler and Lana Condor in the thriller film Ballerina Overdrive.{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Dessi |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Everything We Know About 'Ballerina Overdrive' So Far |url=https://deadline.com/feature/ballerina-overdrive-news-everything-we-know-1236071810/ |access-date=August 31, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=November 3, 2022 |title=Avantika To Headline 'A Crown Of Wishes' Fantasy Series In Works At Disney Branded TV For Disney+ |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/avantika-a-crown-of-wishes-fantasy-series-disney-plus-1235162363/ |access-date=January 24, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Filmography
= Film =
{{Pending films key}}
= Television =
{{Pending series key}}
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Series !Role !Notes !Ref. | |
| 2014
|Dance India Dance L'il Masters (North America Edition) | rowspan="2" |Herself | rowspan="2" |Contestant | |
| 2018
|The Talent Show | |
| 2019
|Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures |Sareena Tapoor, additional voice |Recurring voice role | | |
| rowspan="2" |2020
|Monyca |Recurring role (season one) | | |
| Mira, Royal Detective
|Kamala |Recurring voice role | | |
| 2022
|The Sex Lives of College Girls |Priya |Guest role | | |
| 2023
|Herself |Guest diner/Teen Cancer America contributor; Episode: A Hellish Food Fight | | |
| 2024
|Leah "Ludo" Joseph | | |
| {{TableTBA}} | {{Pending|align=left|A Crown of Wishes{{dagger}}}}
|Princess Gauri |Main cast; also executive producer |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|7297268}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vandanapu, Avantika}}
Category:People from Union City, California
Category:American film actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:American child actresses
Category:American actresses of Indian descent
Category:American people of Telugu descent
Category:American female dancers
Category:Dancers from California
Category:American expatriate actresses in India
Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema
Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema