CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK! 
Since your mother was a famous actress, you must have been quite used to the film atmosphere at home. Were you comfortable with the idea of taking it up as a career?
I’ve been in films for eight years now, having joined while I was still in school. Yes, there was a strong filmi atmosphere at home and I was always aware of what films were being made and what the good ones were. But somehow I had never considered taking it up as a career. Maybe I was too young to know my own mind.

What did you want to do?
I loved dancing. I learnt Bharatnatyam at a very young age and even today, if I’m shooting in Madras, I make time for my dance classes with my guru, Adayar Lakshmanan. I had imagined that I’d become a professional dancer, but it looks like fate had willed otherwise.

You sound like you regret it?
No, no, that’s not what I meant. Joining films was accidental. But there are no regrets, after all it’s such a creative field.

How did you get your first film offer?
They needed an actress who could dance well for Karahatakaran and Gangai Amaran approached me with the role. To me, it sounded like a lot of fun and he said I need not do another film if I didn’t enjoy it. I told myself that if the film flopped, I had my classical dancing to go back to. Luckily, the movie was a hit and here I am.

Were you nervous doing your first film?
I’m nervous even now (laughs). Then, I didn’t know a thing about camera angles, expressions, emotions etc. I listened blindly to my director.

You didn’t cash in on your initial success. What happened to the Tamil films that followed?
You can’t join films thinking that every movie you do is going to be a silver jubilee hit. And what makes you think I didn’t have hits? Within a short span, I had hits like Thankamana Rasa, Thalattu Kekudamma, Kumbakkara Thangaiah, Durga and Chamundi. I was quite satisfied with the progress in my career because my roles and banners were good. Soon, I started doing Malayalam films as well. I became so busy there that I couldn’t concentrate on Tamil films.

How did you get into Malayalam films?
Sarita approached me for Godfather because her husband, Mukesh, was the hero in it, and it was being directed by the ace director duo, Siddique-Lal. At that time, I was working with Prabhu in Thalattu Kekudamma. He strongly recommended the banner and encouraged me to sign the film. There’s been no looking back after Godfather. I’ve worked with all the good filmmakers and acted with all the top heroes in Malayalam.

Which are the Malayalam films you’ve enjoyed doing?
My personal favourites are Godfather (with Mukesh), Ezhara Ponnana (with Jayaram), Vietnam Colony, Pingami (with Mohanlal), Golanthara Vartha, Bhoopati (with Suresh Gopi) and Kusruthi Kaattu with Murali. At last, I’ve become comfortable with the language and can speak it fairly fluently.

Are there any differences in working for Tamil and Malayalam films?
Malayalam films are so natural and realistic. It’s like enacting situations in everyday life. There’s subtlety all round, and no glamour for the sake of it. It’s this naturalness that I enjoy and am very comfortable with. Though I’m from Andhra, nobody treats me like an outsider in Kerala. They’ve made me a part of their industry.

What do you look for when you sign a film — story, director, money, banner or co-star?
My first consideration is the story and my role in it. Then come the director and the co-star. Then, of course, the film should have a producer who will complete the project. That’s very important, don’t you think? (laughs heartily).

What do you like or dislike about films?
I love acting and I watch my films and am very critical about my work. I stand before the mirror and practise my expressions. With each new film, there’s scope for improvement and I work hard at it. I like the creativity part of it. What I hate about films is the gossip.

Have you ever been a victim of it?
Luckily, not so far. We may be public figures, but, I feel we are entitled to our share of privacy. The media tends to forget that we are human beings with normal emotions and feelings.

They say your mother is a very dominating force in your life
and that your career might have been better had she not interfered.
My mother is my well-wisher and my friend who has guided and motivated me all through life. Even though she was a leading actress and films were so much a part of her life, she never once forced me into it. Joining films was entirely my decision. We do sit together and discuss my roles. Her advice is very valuable to me.

Going beyond the actress, what sort of a person are you?
I’m basically shy and reserved by nature. I love being alone. I’m not an extrovert. I have never felt the need to have too many friends and the few that I have, are not from the industry. Most of my spare time is taken up by my dance classes. Leisure is for watching old movies, especially those starring Vyjayantimala, Savithri and my mother.

Do you feel there’s been a change in film trends between the
time you joined films and now? Has the role of the heroine changed?
Ten years back, movies with family sentiments and strong storylines were prominent. Now after the arrival of Prabhu Deva into films, dance has gained importance and films are fast-paced. The accent is on entertainment. The roles of heroines then and now remain the same except that the new breed of up-coming heroines have become very bold and daring.

How do you want to be remembered?
I want to act in challenging roles so that viewers will remember me as a sensible and capable actress.