Newcomer Monisha Vijaykumar fondly reminisces about being on the set of one of her father's (Kannada actor Vijay Kumar) movies as a child, confidently declaring to those around her that one day she would become an actress. "At that time, my father was strongly against it. It's fate that I will soon appear in a film directed by my dad, who once opposed this career path," she recalls. Recently graduated from the New York Film Academy, Monisha describes how the program surpassed her expectations. "Initially, my aim was to learn acting. However, I also gained knowledge in editing and directing, providing me with a deeper understanding of filmmaking. After finishing the program, my main goal was to secure a role in a film and experience being on set," she explains. In City Lights, she portrays a naive young woman with ambitious aspirations. When asked why she didn't choose a glamorous role for her debut, she responds, "Glamour can come later. First and foremost, I want to establish myself as a talented performer." Monisha acknowledges that her return home was accompanied by challenges. "I had many restless nights worrying about how I would land my first opportunity. My father observed silently throughout this period. Eventually, he revealed to me, 'I want you to star in my upcoming film, City Lights.' I was both relieved and shocked. He had been considering this script for a while, but I never thought he would cast me. He wanted me to earn it and experience uncertainty before presenting me with this chance," she reflects.