October 07, 2010 Y. Sunitha Chowdhary
Four years back when Kajal Agarwal stepped into Telugu films, she wore a lost expression on her visage and would turn to every unit boy and technician to understand the gestures, language and demands of the trade but now the actress exudes a quiet confidence. Her mother Vinay Rai approvingly nods at her daughter's growing status and career and the lessening dependence on her for advice and support, "The girls don't need me now, they can handle themselves perfectly and I'm happy that we got some time to spend together and bond on the sets, during the travel. Earlier they would go to college and get into their own world. Now Nisha too is into telugu movies."
In an industry where an actress's career could be briefer than high school education, Kajal had to face a daunting task of working on projects that had her, not just for illuminating the screen but to actually deliver impressive performances. The lady has her hopes set high, with two possible releases scheduled early next year. Ask her how it feels to be numero uno, she goes blank asking for two minutes to answer. She says she honestly never gave it a thought and went about her work diligently hoping God would stand by her at every step.
The actress had been clever choosing only commercial movies that had a propensity to click at the box-office and not meaningful cinema that got rave reviews but bombed eventually. Kajal disagrees, "I tend to take life as it comes and never charted an action plan to work in a particular film, but yes I'm someone who aims high and works hard for what I want to achieve. I'm happy and grateful to be living my dream. I believe in good cinema language being no barrier."
The actor will be completing four years in Telugu cinema soon and she adds that it was a great learning experience. She got into movies without a photo shoot, god father or any modeling experience and quickly learnt the tricks of the trade, "Initially I didn't understand the camera, which profile works for me et al, I was even taken for a ride in my first film but now I don't find the necessity to rush to the monitor to check my shot all the time."
Whenever she gets to see her old film on television she is highly embarrassed but quickly adds that she is embarrassed but not ashamed, "We all have some of those childhood pictures that we would want to conceal from the world, it's exactly how I feel when I see some of my scenes, I'm highly critical." Kajal Agarwal has done Three films in Tamil and begs not to be judged so quickly, it isn't fair she avers and makes an interesting observation that Tamilians love reality on screen whereas Telugu speaking people demand that extra slice of life and love fantasy.
Finally is she threatened by her co-star Samantha's entry? Looking cool as a cucumber she replies, "There are pretty girls walking in every day but when someone says that I'm talented, I'm a performer it gives me a kick. We share a good camaraderie, I have no issues with anyone."
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