Shriya Saran

Actor Shriya Saran during an interaction with The Hindu in Chennai recently. After having paired with superstar Rajinikanth in "Sivaji", Shriya is back to Kollywood with at least four films in the offing — "Kandasamy" with Vikram, "Kutty" with Dhanush, "Jagghubhai" with Sarath Kumar and "Thoranai" with Vishal

With an impressive line-up of films ready to hit the screen or under various stages of production, uptown girl Shriya Saran is upbeat. Despite a diary crammed with engagements and a severe cold that makes her sound a tad hoarse, she is game for an interview. So between the cut-and-take of her Kutty schedule in Chennai, we chat big-time. 

“My platter is full. And what’s more, there’s lots of variety too,” says the star, reeling off a list of her upcoming films. “There’s Kandasamy, Thoranai, Kutty and Jaggubai. Deepa Mehta’s What’s Cooking, Stella? too is out in the festival circuit and I’m oh-so-excited.”

In the same breath, she continues, “In Kandasamy, I play this strong, stubborn, opinionated girl, who eventually transforms and connects better with the world around her. It’s an interesting storyline in which the hero and the heroine, both contrasting characters, share a love-hate relationship. Director Susi Ganesan has a sensible story to tell. It’s one that inspires and spreads hope. As for my co-star Vikram, his professionalism and dedication are incredible. In this film, you can’t miss his striking body language and his voice — it was a revelation. This man can sing — that too so well!” 

From a sassy girl in Kandasamy, Shriya morphs into a naïve youngster-next-door for Thoranai. “It’s a cute character in a story about two brothers.” She revels in the sibling tale as Vishal’s love interest. “It’s a light-hearted film to which you could go with a pack of popcorn, enjoy, and return happy. It’s been cool teaming up with Vishal.”

While Kandasamy and Thoranai will hit the screen this summer, Kutty too is getting ready at a brisk pace. “In Kutty, for a change, I play a temperamental small-town girl. Innocence is her asset. Look-wise and character-wise, this one is clean and fresh. Since I’ve already done a film with Dhanush, our comfort quotient is high. In Jaggubai that will be taken up a little later, I am a spoilt brat who changes after she meets her father (Sarath Kumar).”

From demure to daring and plenty in-between, there’s enough variety in her roles. The head turner who once scorched the screens with a cool Mazhai is now confident about performing complex roles. “I understand that the screen life of a heroine is short compared to that of a hero’s. Generally, scripts offer more scope for heroes. But things are changing. The fact is that by the time a woman matures and masters the craft, it’s time for her to quit — unlike her male counterparts who go on and on. I think if that mindset changes, women will be able to look at multi-layered characters.” 

Over the years, Shriya has moved smoothly from Tollywood and Kollywood to Bollywood and Hollywood. “Tamil film or English film, language only changes the style of work. The quintessence remains the same. Ultimately, it’s a story that you are telling,” she says with economy of expression. 

As the conversation swerves to how things changed overnight for her post-Sivaji, the girl who made movie buffs gape like goldfish at her luminous face, bee-stung lips and smouldering silhouette, blushes beet red, “Yes, it was a major milestone and I began to take my career more seriously. Expectations make you get a bit scared. But I would get more scared if there were no expectations. It’s part of the survival game. Hype helps, but yes, it must be dealt with carefully.”

Talk about fame’s other shoe — controversy and the highs and lows of showbiz — and the savvy navigator switches to a matter-of-fact mode, “Everything has a flip side. Link-ups happen. Also, normal things can get exaggerated. You just have to take the plus and the minus of fame with a pinch of salt. Otherwise, filmdom is a nice place to be. I enjoy my space.” 

SHRIYA SPEAK

WHAT I’M READING Right now Amitav Ghosh’s “Sea of Poppies”. Sometimes, I read three books simultaneously!

I COLLECT Books and clothes. I have a closet of clothes given by people close to me.

FITNESS MANTRA I eat a lot, so I don’t skip my yoga routine.

WHAT SHOWBIZ TAUGHT ME Patience. I keep my cool even in turbulent times. 

FRIENDSHIP I can’t stay away from my friends. They are an essential part of my life. 

ON MY MIND Dance. As a child, I was inspired by Hema Malini. I’ve watched her perform. She’s proved that age is no bar when it comes to dancing. My dream is to present a Broadway-style show incorporating Indian music and dance forms. But yes, I’ll have to make more money. I see myself preparing to go there… step by step.

Sumber: https://bolliwoodstories.blogspot.com/2009/04/shriya-saran.html