September 04, 2011 Y. Sunitha Chowdhary
The actor reminisces, "I was busy with Madurai Veeran in Tamil which is Nuvvu Nenu here and Buddhivantha, Dubai Babu (a remake of Dubai Seenu) and Mr. Theertha in Kannada. I had four to five scenes in Magadheera and due to censor problem the director had to chop it. I had a tiny song and a wedding scene with Srihari but all that is gone. It wasn't anyone's fault, the model coordinator explained that my role is that of a second lead heroine's and later when Rajamouli narrated it, my fear surfaced, I knew I was going to bid farewell to the industry with this one movie."
The actor adds that at that point of time the set was ready and everything appeared so huge she didn't want to refuse. The director had left the choice to her and she gave the nod and stresses that at no given point during the making of the film or before it commenced did the director promise her Maryada Ramanna.
She adds, "Two days after I wrapped up my work I told him that I would love to work with him in the future and before Magadheera released I became a part of Maryada Ramanna and that too as a lead heroine. I guess he took my word too seriously. None of the films Dhana 51, Kokila or Chukkallo Chandrudu got me such a response, I feel I have started fresh. Every where I go be it Chennai or Bangalore people say they have seen Maryada Ramanna and I feel so good. That movie got me more offers..Bodyguard with Venkatesh, Mahadeva Naidu with Balakrishna and a solo lead in Telugammayi."
Does it bother her when you remind that she is not the original Telugammayi? The actor is not amused and remarks, "There are many people living and speaking, acting in Hindi films in Mumbai, did they complain. This problem that I'm not a south Indian is only in minds of certain people. It is not important what language you speak and also the appearance and expressions are more important than talking in Telugu films.
I've professionals to dub for me and I believe that it is enough if I look like an Indian. The song Telugammayi is so fresh and holds a great deal of sentiment for me. I remember that once I auditioned for Dhana 51 at Padmalaya Studios and was all dolled up in a half saree. The director said that I really looked like a Telugu girl."
Telugammayi is releasing in the first week of September and she plays a woman who meets four people in a train and how the bonding begins, it also focuses on her beautiful qualities especially her giving nature.
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