With Dharmadurai releasing earlier this week, and Devi(L) set for release, this could well be Tamannaah’s most productive period in Tamil cinema in recent years. Excerpts from an interview with the actress:
Rumour is that you play an actress in Devi (L) .
Yes, and there is an interesting twist about how I end up as an actress. It’s a horror-comedy in which the horror elements have been treated very differently.
Your solo number in the trailer has come in for much praise.
It needed 15 days of rehearsal, and the routine itself was something I had never done before. Prabhu Deva, along with two assistant cameramen, stayed throughout the rehearsal and motivated me. That support went a long way in my dancing how I did.
Could you talk about your role in Dharmadurai ?
I am one of the three heroines in the film, and play a doctor who is romantically interested in Vijay Sethupathi, who also plays a doctor. There’s a twist to our love story, but I don’t want to give it away.
You’ve also got a film with Vishal, Kaththi Sandai , in the pipeline.
I am quite excited about working with a successful actor like Vishal for the first time. I play a rural character. The duets in the film were quite a challenge, as it was hard to keep up with Vishal’s energy.
In Tamil cinema, you haven’t been known for glamorous roles. So, it was quite surprising to see you in the ‘Pachchai Thee’ song in Baahubali
The song was aesthetically shot, and it was a sequence that had a huge bearing on the plot.
I did not really go bare, of course; it was just a camera trick.
What’s the secret behind your longevity?
My confidence is my strength. Also, I have no issues with doing glamorous roles, as long as they are important for the story. That said, my films have always shown me in good light, and I’m grateful to my directors for that.
With so many roles coming your way, it must be hard to choose.
I think this is a great time to move beyond glamour and do meaningful films that are women-centric. I choose my films in a way that helps me do justice to all of them. Also, I like doing time-consuming films like Baahubali ; it’s sometimes more rewarding than doing lots of small films.
What has it been like to do Baahubali: The Conclusion ?
It’s a boon for an actress like me. I am simply a part of Rajamouli’s vision and have blindly followed his instructions. He is a perfectionist. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it was an experience of a lifetime.
But honestly, I never imagined that Baahubali would be made on such a lavish scale. Being appreciated for playing a female warrior seems too good to be true.
I enjoy playing such empowered roles, and on a related note, that’s why I agreed to become the brand ambassador for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
But is is true that your role is short in the sequel?
Yes, it’s a small extension of the role I played in the first film, but there is a big connection to what happens at the end.
Your Hindi career didn’t quite take off so well.
I wonder if it had something to do with my being homesick. On the face of it, both films, Himmatwala and Humshakals , seemed like winners, but failed to do well. I’ll likely be starting work next on a Rohit Shetty film starring Ranveer Singh. Perhaps that’s my chance to make amends.
There were reports that you are doing the Hindi remake of Paiyaa.
Those reports are false.
Your performance in Thozha , your only Tamil release this year before Dharmadurai , was quite appreciated.
My character was the bridge between the two male protagonists. I liked that it was a film completely different from Baahubali . I also enjoyed dubbing for the Telugu film. That’s something I want to do in Tamil films too.
