August 24, 2011 Y. Sunitha Chowdhary
I just got a name in the industry but my earnings were meager. I missed out the simple and disciplined life of a common man, spent all my life in travelling and taking up roles thinking that if I wouldn't do it, I would be eliminated from the competition. I don't recollect spending a Sunday with my wife or children. In my 45 years of service, I'm still struggling for daily bread, there is nothing to fall back on, what has the industry done for me at the fag end of my life?
After the success of my first film I was in a dilemma, do I join the government job or not. If I resigned and would return again they said they wouldn't take me back. Here in the industry there was lot of competition, politics, caste feelings and all I did was to compromise and reach so far. There have been many good films like Siri Siri Muvva, Subhodayam, Seetamalakshmi, Padaharella Vayasu, etc., but before I quit films I want to do one film, one good character role, that will revolve around me and give me complete satisfaction.
My life didn't change much after my entry in films. There were many bitter moments. During the shooting of Manasantha Nuvve my mother was breathing her last and I asked them to let me go; they said it was a combination scene and they would lose out on two lakhs. My mother I was told was waiting for me to see that one last time. In the intial year of my career I took a car and rushed to see my dying sister. She was gone by the time I reached.
Life long I feel guilty. My life is like the prostitute, we can't give it up, got used to the glamour. There is no comfort or happiness. Once Kantha Rao came to the sets, we had to plead an assistant to get a chair and some coffee for him and he simply asked who is that man? There have been many artistes who died in a deplorable condition; people survive here only if you are careful with your money.
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