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Sakshi Sivanand
AT HOME IN HYDERABAD

For someone with a glamdoll image, do you agree you were miscast as Chiranjeevi’s friend in Iddaru Mitrulu?
I don’t. I believed in my character implicitly and the thought never occurred to me during the making of the film. How could I miss an opportunity to work with an actor like Chiranjeevi? It would’ve been unwise on my part to skip such a title role, that too, from an established name like K Raghavendra Rao. My choice was vindicated when the film was well-received by the audience. Also I wanted to make up for the loss of missing out on Chiranjeevi’s Snehamkosam, due to prior commitments. At the end of the day, I’m happy I got such an opportunity to prove myself as an actress.

1999 was a year of mixed fortunes for the glamgirl. After the superhit Samudram, she proved her mettle with Iddaru Mitrulu, walking away with the audience’s sympathy as Chiranjeevi’s friend. But thereafter, she had to contend with an average grosser, Seetaramula Kalyanam Chudamurarandi and two miserable flops, Pellivaramandi and Yamajatakudu. She began 2000 with another box-office dud, Vamsodarakudu, and a string of controversies. Can she make a strong comeback with the promising releases she has in store? Or will she become just another Mumbai girl who fails to make it good both on home turf and in the South?...

Surprisingly, K Raghavendra Rao who’s known to present even average-looking girls as glamgals, has cast you in a performance-based character in Iddaru Mitrulu and again, in Pellisambandam...
It sounds interesting, now that you mention it, but frankly, I didn’t even think along those lines. He is a cute, lovable person and I’d enjoy working with him in any role he offers me, without a second thought. My character in Iddaru Mitrulu had several exciting shades to it, and I again have a meaty role in Pellisambandam. I hope the film does well, too.

How does it feel to be associated with the likes of ANR and his grandson Sumanth in Pellisambandam?
I’m thrilled to bits about it. It will be special to me, whether it finds a mention in the annals of Indian cinema as a box-office hit or not. Despite being acknowledged as a legendary actor, he’s jovial and down-to-earth on the sets, and his presence doesn’t intimidate us in the least. Similarly, Sumanth is nice to work, too. I’m looking forward to the film’s release.

You seem to be walking from one controversy to another. Now, you’ve been charged with high-handedness by the makers of Yamajathakudu. Why don’t you clear your name of unseemly controver-sies like this?
Starting with Jolly, I’ve often been cheated by the filmmakers, and unnecessarily blamed for their mistakes. They promise me good roles and once the shoots commence, they chop and change to suit their convenience. I walk out of the film if they fail to convince me with their explanations.

I didn’t have the slightest problems with Mohan Babu while working in Collectorgaru and he was very helpful to me. Perhaps, he was hurt when I first rejected Yamajathakudu before accepting it. I was busy at that point of time, and couldn’t spare the dates. So during the making of Yamajathakudu, he wasn’t the Mohan Babu I’d worked with earlier. My detractors probably think I’ll be flustered by silly rumours like these. But people who know me well, have no problems repeating me in their films. Ask them, and they’ll readily vouch for the fact that I’m every bit as professional as any other actress. Success always breeds such rumours. And I shan’t counter these rumours in the press in future.

The success of Samudram has proved the audience still likes you as a glam doll. But your experiment with a different image in Pellivaramandi failed to make an impact.
I don’t agree with your branding at all. Wearing jeans and shorts like other girls my age doesn’t mean I’m a glam doll. In Samudram, my character of the happy-go-lucky girl went down well with the audience, not just my song sequences. It is not fair on the part of people to overlook my over-all performance for a few costumes I wear for the song sequences.

Coming to Pellivaramandi, I didn’t accept the role to change my image but because I liked it the way it was narrated to me. But everything went haywire during the shoots, and their lack of professionalism on the sets was truly exposed. I used to sit idle for hours together, while they went about procuring things at the last moment. And I was left cursing myself for accepting the film. I wasn’t even paid my remuneration inspite of working so hard. I blame the whole unit for the debacle.

On what basis do you accept two-heroine projects? Raasi walked away with the acting honours for Snehithulu, and you still have a few more such projects in the pipeline?
I take up a two-heroine project only if I am really convinced with my character. I don’t even ask who is playing the other role. I took up Snehithulu because I earlier missed out on a chance to work with Muthyala Subbaiah. From day one, I knew Raasi would walk away with the audience’s sympathy in the climax. But in other films like Iddaru Mitrulu, Yamajathakudu and now, Vamsodarakudu, the story revolves around me. Given a choice, I prefer solo films, but I’ve nothing against two-heroine ventures, provided I have meaty roles in them.

You have made a place for yourself in Telugu whereas your career hasn’t progressed in Hindi and other languages films?
The films I did in Hindi failed to give me a break and I am waiting for the right film to give me the much-needed push in Hindi films. Right now, I’m comfortable with Telugu films since I’m working with the big stars, directors and banners. I’ve also found a place for myself in Telugu cinema. Unlike in the past, Telugu will now be my first priority. And I’m grateful both to the Telugu audience and the filmmakers for the encouragement they’ve been to me. Finally, my desire to work with Balakrishna gets fulfilled with Vamsodarakudu, and I have some interesting releases with Mahesh and Chakravarthy lined up, and an exciting offer with Krishna Vamsi.

BVS Prakash