"I had reached pretty far in the process"
Anita Kalathara revealed she was close to starring in Netflix’s Bridgerton but missed out on the role due to her then-manager’s decision-making.
The Grey’s Anatomy and Doom Patrol star opened up about the missed opportunity in an interview with Variety India, explaining that she had progressed significantly in the casting process to play Edwina Sharma, the younger sister of Kate Sharma.
Anita said: “There were times in my career when I had a different team.”
She revealed that her former manager’s decision ultimately cost her the role, which later went to Charithra Chandran.
“It was Bridgerton. I had reached pretty far in the process for the younger sister (Edwina Sharma) in Bridgerton, and my manager just told them I wasn’t available.”
Charithra’s portrayal of Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton season two helped establish her as a recognisable face in the industry, with the character becoming central to the show’s storyline alongside Kate Sharma, played by Simone Ashley.
Since Bridgerton, Charithra has gone on to star in Dune: Prophecy and Netflix’s live-action One Piece.
Reflecting on the outcome, Kalathara admitted the role “could genuinely have been life-changing” and added:
“When I later saw what happened to the other person’s career, I just thought, ‘Oh crap.’”
Anita Kalathara also revealed she previously turned down a role in the 2014 supernatural thriller Unfriended after receiving advice from her former representatives.
Her representatives had reportedly warned that taking the part could affect her chances of securing Disney roles and highlighted the film’s modest pay.
However, Unfriended was a box office success and a sequel was released in 2018.
Anita added:
“I turned down a role that ended up becoming a huge franchise.”
The experiences encouraged the actress to reconsider the type of representation she wanted as she continued building her acting career.
She said her current team understands her ambition to explore a wider range of characters and has helped her access more opportunities.
Anita said: “They’ve been bringing me so many great auditions, even over the last couple of months.
“I’m very lucky to have a team now that really gets me.”
Anita Kalathara’s comments highlight the influence that career management decisions can have on actors navigating the entertainment industry, where securing the right roles can often shape future opportunities.
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