Newcomer Monisha Vijaykumar fondly remembers being on the set of one of her father's (Kannada actor Vijay Kumar) movies as a child, confidently telling everyone around that one day she would become an actress. "At that time, my father was strongly against it. It's fate that I will soon be appearing in a film directed by my dad, who once discouraged this career path," she shares.

Recently graduated from the New York Film Academy, Monisha talks about how the program exceeded her expectations. "Initially, I just wanted to study acting. However, I also received training in editing and directing, offering me a deeper understanding of the filmmaking process. After completing the course, my main goal was to land a role in a film and step onto a set," she elaborates.

In her first film, City Lights, I portray a naive young girl with ambitious dreams. Many wonder why I did not choose a glamorous role for my debut. Glamour can come later. My primary aim is to establish myself as a performer.

Monisha acknowledges that returning home presented challenges. "I had many sleepless nights worrying about how I would get my first opportunity. My father observed quietly throughout. Eventually, he informed me, 'I want you to star in my upcoming film, City Lights.' I was both relieved and surprised. He had been considering this script for some time, but I never expected him to cast me. He wanted me to earn it and experience uncertainty before offering me this chance," she reveals.