Bangalore-based 19-year-old Raagini Dwivedi is an exception among beauty pageant winners turning actresses. She was an actress first and then a winner at the pageant.

She got a big break in Sudeep’s Kannada film Vera Madakari, a huge hit, and then participated in the recent Femina Miss India beauty pageant in Mumbai.

Raagini won the Miss Beautiful Hair award and was in the top ten beauties. She has come back to Bangalore with more modeling offers and a few interesting projects in Tamil and Kannada.

Raagini speaks to R G Vijayasarathy about her films and her experience at the Femina Miss India pageant. Excerpts:

What was your experience of working in Veera Madakari?

I had a wonderful time working in Veera Madakari.

Sudeep sir saw my photos and selected me after a photo shoot. There was a major schedule in Badami, a historical place in the state.

When the film was released, I was preparing myself for the Miss India pageant and at that time, Sudeep sir also was away in Mumbai shooting for Rann. So, I could not participate in the promos of the film.

I only learnt about the film doing well after I returned from Mumbai after the competition.

Have you signed any other Kannada film after Veera Madakari?

Offers are now coming to me, but I am yet to sign any. I have signed a Tamil film, though.

Were you disappointed that you could not make it to the last three at the Femina Miss India beauty pageant?

I have mixed feelings. Well, I am a little disappointed that I did not win the coveted award and I was not in the top three. But I did make it to the final ten and I won the Miss Beautiful Hair award.

The positive aspect was that I did learn many things, carried myself very well throughout the pageant and gained confidence. The training and planning helped me in many things.

Earlier in Chennai when I was declared the first Runner Up in the Miss South India beauty pageant contest, many people told me that I had lost the crown by a whisker. I think I was not able to reach the top three mainly because it was not my day. All of us in the top ten contestants had equal chances but it just did not happen the way I wanted it to happen.

Are you happy that you won the Miss Beautiful Hair award?

I don’t think that this recognition came to me as a consolation. Even in the Chennai pageant I did win the award and I am proud of my hair. Many people also told me that I have expressive eyes and that I looked more stylish on the ramp and other things.

How was the experience of participating in this one month long competition?

I cannot forget anything connected to the competition. I was able to go to many places like Goa and Mumbai. More than anything else, it was a great learning experience for me to meet so many people. I gained more confidence with each passing day.

One more thing I have to tell you. I did not know until I was part of the competition that I had so many fans wishing me success in the beauty pageant. There were so many messages congratulating me on my performance. All of them wished me big success.