As one of the lead stars of Mean Girls, the comedy-musical reboot released earlier this month, Avantika Vandanapu has had a busy few weeks. But with the whirlwind press tour now under her belt, the rising actor (who portrays Karen) is already back to school in New York, where Vandanapu is studying cultural anthropology at Columbia. “I just moved back into my dorm,” says Vandanapu, who is set to graduate in 2027. “[The press tour] was super hectic, but I had a really incredible time. I’ve never done anything like it before!”
Landing a part in Mean Girls isn’t a bad gig for an 18-year-old, though this isn t Vandanapu s first Hollywood rodeo. The actor has already starred in productions such as Spin and The Sex Lives of College Girls. Taking on an iconic character such as Karen, she says, was particularly exciting, given that she grew up with the original film—literally. “I was born the year after Mean Girls was released, so it’s resonated with me throughout different parts of my life,” says Vandanapu. “I loved how campy, big, and bold this re-imagination is.” Having worked on Bollywood films, Vandanapu says the musical aspect of the remake was one of the most enticing elements about it. “The Western take on the musical genre is very different from how we do it in India,” says Vandanapu, “but I felt really familiar with the dancing, vivid imagery, and expressive music.”
While Vandanapu was clearly well-suited for the role, it still came with its challenges. For one, she knew that she would have to work extra-hard to put a new, original stamp on her character Karen, originally popularized by Amanda Seyfried in 2004. “It’s hard when a movie is so iconic, and as you re reading the dialogue in the script, you can literally hear Amanda saying it in your head,” says Vandanapu. “But I think we created a lot of new essence with Karen; She’s a little more bold, and less shy about her ‘dumbness.’” Even so, the star was excited that she got Seyfried’s stamp of approval, when they recently met at an event. “She’s absolutely wonderful,” says Vandanapu. “It was really reassuring to hear she was excited [about the film], and that I had her blessing.”
Getting into character for filming was one thing—but off-screen, Vandanapu had just as much fun experimenting with fashion for the film’s many screenings this month. With an eye for sprightly colors and fun, flirty silhouettes, the star is shaping up to be one of young Hollywood’s freshest red carpet stars to watch. “I love fashion,” says Vandanapu. “I look for things that will flatter my body, but at the same time, fashion that feels interesting and that catches the eye.” Throughout the Mean Girls press tour, the actor slipped into loads of pink—not just on Wednesdays!—but looked for designs that felt more unexpected, too. “I wanted to lean into the glitzy glamour of Mean Girls, and the four girls,” says Vandanapu.
The star nailed red carpet dressing at the New York City premiere (where Lindsay Lohan also made a guest cameo). Vandanapu chose a striking caped gown for the affair, from Cucculelli Shaheen. “It was a really beautiful, bohemian moment that felt synonymous with my style,” says Vandanapu. “I loved the heavy embroidery and beading.” For another screening in the Big Apple, the actor switched it up, with a latex mini set from Balmain. “I wanted something a little out of the box,” says Vandanapu. “I loved the exaggerated hips. The bra also felt Madonna-esque.” The star has even dipped into vintage, too. For an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Vandanapu wore a colorful, archival Versace slip dress. “It was really frilly and girly, and I absolutely adored that,” she says.
Label-wise, the star says she’s a big lover of vintage in general. Earlier this month, at a Lancome event, the star donned a printed, sheer maxi dress that she found secondhand online. “As a regular Gen Z person, I was scrolling on DePop, and I saw the dress,” she says. “I loved the watercolor, and that it had a scarf!” But the star is a fan of current labels too, such as Schiaparelli, Alexandre Vauthier, and Miss Sohee. More poignantly, though, is how Vandanapu always looks for South Asian labels to wear on the red carpet. “Having South Asians in the fashion space is really important to me; We don t see ourselves represented very often,” she says. “I love Prabal Gurung, Falguni Shane Peacock, and Gaurav Gupta.”
What’s next for the rising star? This summer, she will star in a horror film titled Horrorscope. “I’ve always wanted to do a horror-thriller film,” she says. “I also have a Bollywood show on Amazon coming out in a few months; I’m excited to play with different genres.” Lest we not forget, she will also be attending classes, too. “I do have school,” she says, “so it’ll be tough balancing everything!”
