Growing up surrounded by literature, art, and culture, Kavitha Lankesh found inspiration for her first feature film, Deveeri, close to home. Discussing her plans with her late father, the Kannada literary icon P. Lankesh, he suggested she adapt his novella, Akka. Intrigued by the story but noticing it leaned towards a literary rather than a cinematic feel, Kavitha decided to write the script herself. She also fondly remembers the remarkable set created by art director Shashidhar Adapa, whose work was so realistic that it was mistaken for a genuine slum location. Despite challenges, the film was completed on a modest budget of ₹32 lakh. Additionally, Kavitha spoke about her father's humorous reaction to watching the film before his passing and the casting of Nandita in the lead role, who was considered a prominent figure at the time.Despite receiving financial support from three friends, she still values the two pages her father originally wrote. Kavitha reminisces, "When I approached Nandita Das for the role in Deveeri, she was a renowned actor and the film was set in a slum. I was searching for someone who could authentically embody the character. While I considered multiple actors from Kannada cinema, Nandita appeared to be the perfect fit. Despite her reputation for choosing selective art films, she graciously accepted the role and portrayed it beautifully." Reflecting on her debut film, Kavitha muses on the innocence of creating one's first film and the joy of revisiting those memories to see how much progress has been made over the years. Manjunath, who played Kyaatha, her younger brother in the film, was living in Bosco House for orphaned children at that time. Kavitha recalls, "When Manjunath met Nandita, he was surprised and skeptical of her ability to portray the role as she did not speak Kannada. He was unaware of dubbing." One cherished memory for Kavitha is her father's reaction to the completed film, "My father initially joked that he knew I would make a terrible film anyway. He was not one to openly praise, yet he later wrote, 'Deveeri is a film that would make anyone envious' in an article. That was all the validation I needed. Although my father saw the film, he passed away before its release." Kavitha and Nandita have remained close friends, with Nandita sharing a special bond with Kavitha's daughter, Esha. Recently, Esha visited Nandita, and they had a delightful time together. Kavitha's care for her team extended beyond the film sets, as illustrated by opening a fixed deposit for Manjunath when he was just 12 years old. They opted for this approach instead of giving him cash, ensuring he would receive the funds when he turned 18."He used that money to purchase his first bicycle and took me for a ride. We still keep in contact."