Interview with Revathi Pillai | Kota Factory

‘Kota Factory’ is TVF’s latest original. India’s first ‘Black and White’ show highlights the problems present day IIT-JEE aspirants face in their day-to-day lives.

In that frame, I had the pleasure to interview Revathi Pillai, popularly known as Vartika of Kota Factory.

1. Please tell us about your Journey from Yeh Meri Family to Kota Factory?
Yeh Meri Family was the first big break that I got which is again a TVF Originals. On the set of Yeh Meri Family, I only used to talk to only to my director, writer, creator and Harshu because I had my major scenes with him. And I used not to talk with anybody because I used to be a kind of introvert person whose not mingled with everybody at once. Like I need to take time to start talking to that person to open up. But on the sets of Kota Factory, we had these workshops arranged which went on like for a month. That is when I got to know about the cast, we spoke to each other, we used to have lunch together, we used to do a script reading together. That’s why I got so close to these people and it was fun at the set of Kota Factory more than Yeh Meri Family but the crew of both the series were too good.

2. How did Kota Factory happen to you?
So like every other audition I get a call from this casting agency, saying that I have got an audition for a web series but they didn’t mention which is the production house or anything. So I went for the audition and they said they will call me within a few days if I get selected. And I didn’t really get a call like for the next 2 weeks or something but I was quite satisfied with the audition that I had given. And I had auditioned for both Shivangi and Vartika. And I was expecting a call which I didn’t get and I was really disappointed but I was like “No problem, Let’s crack next audition”. But then after like 2-3 weeks, I get a call from them saying the workshop will be beginning in a few days, come for the face test and then the workshop started.

3. Who is Your inspiration or who is your Favourite Youtuber or Actor?
I don’t have any specific favourite actor or something like I see movies and I like their acting and yes I look up into them but there is no constant favourite actor.

4. What advice do you want to give to the students/ young generation who want to be Youtuber or Actor?
I don’t know about YouTubers but about actors, All I can say is that just keep yourself motivated and if you have thought about something like “Yes, I want to do these” then just do that until you achieve it. Because I am also one person who gives up really quick. And that is one thing that I have to change, which is really bad so just keep yourself motivated and do not give up.

5. What excites you the most Movie or Web Series?
More than movies I think it is Web Series that excites me because it is trending now and youth is looking for new content. Even we as actor look for better roles in Web Series and even movies are not bad I am saying but I’m looking for Web Series more.

6. Please tell us something about your journey with Kota Factory?
Kota Factory is one of the happiest and most beautiful journeys I have had till now. So my shoot dates were for around 12 days or something but the dates were so weird that I had to stay back for a month in Kota and I gelled up with all the crew members and cast members so nicely that, at first it was boring but when I had days off from the shoot I used to go the shoot and I used to sit beside the director like I used to sit on the monitor and it was fun doing that. And we all used to go out when we had a break day. We had gone to City Mall, Chambal gardens, etc. We did all kind of crazy things. I am really looking forward to season 2 which all of our viewers are looking for.

7. How were your initial days? When did you start acting?
I had never expected myself to be an actor. I told my parents that I want to become an automobile engineer I don’t know why maybe because I was crazy about car something. My brother was into dance reality show so he has got a lot of contacts. He used to take me to auditions and I used to go there crying just because my brother wanted to make me an actor.

8. Is Acting your only income source or there is something else you do?
I am just in 12th and acting that I do right now is just for my passion more than a source of income. Haven’t really thought about it but Yes I want to be an actor but currently, I’m a student.

9. What memorable experience you have from KOTA Factory?
There are many memorable moments that I have in Kota Factory. But the funniest and craziest moment that I had was the Dahi Scene when Vaibhav feeds me Dahi before the exam. Just letting you know I hate Dahi and I have to have it for Vaibhav. I told my Assitant director about it and then we replaced Curd with Mayonnaise. We had locked for mayonnaise but Mayur was unaware about it. And the next day in the Dahi box there is mayonnaise, and when we shot for the scene next day Mayur went behind and he throws up Mayonnaise and I was like why I did this. And then I told my director that I will have Dahi only on one condition when Dahi has got too much concentration of sugar on it and I cannot even stand the smell of curd.

10. What are your future plans?
Currently, my future plan is to complete my 12th grade with good marks and all I know is that I want to become an actor and haven’t really thought other than that.