Sameera Reddy on her role in “Vaaranam Aayiram”

Photo: R. Ravindran

On a high Sameera Reddy

“Vaaranam Aayiram” was a dream come true, says Sameera Reddy. “When I watched “Kaakha Kaakha”, I was stuck by the sheer magic created by Suriya and director Gautam Menon. I would wonder if I’d ever get a chance to work in their film,” says the actress.

She has lost oodles of weight, and has walked away with appreciation for her breezy performance. “I’ve been getting many congratulatory calls. People have particularly loved the first half. The first half is where I come,” she laughs.

She’s managed to hold her own in a film that has Suriya in a double role. “I knew that it wasn’t my movie. It’s a film about the relationship between a father and a son. The other characters are catalysts to how the son’s life shapes up. My portions were shot in San Franciso. I loved my role; Gautam has etched it so well, just like he had dealt with the Suriya-Jyothika portions in “Kaakha Kaakha”.”

Sameera shares the screen with heroines Simran and Divya Spandana, but takes it in her stride. “Even if there were 50 heroines in the film, I wouldn’t have cared a damn. Bring them on, and I’ll still shine through. I put my heart and soul into the role. The role I play is so close to the person I am in my real life,” she says. Her restrained performance, accentuated by the minimal makeup, has won hearts. “Gautam never allowed me to wear makeup, apart from eyeliner and natural shades of lipstick. That’s something the audience has loved.”

She’s no newcomer to regional cinema. Having worked in Telugu and Bengali films earlier, she confesses: “Tamil is tough. I was like a Class VIII student learning all night, and still thinking I would fail the exams. I’ve never felt so stressed.”

Sameera is busy juggling Hindi and regional films. “There’s “Red Alert” that also stars Seema Biswas, and two films with Priyardarshan. In Nagesh Kukunoor’s “Yeh Hausla”, I portray a Dalit woman. Nagesh is a tough nut to crack; I am sure this will be my best film till date,” she emphasises. She’s signed on a Tamil film with Ajith, and is in talks for Telugu films.

SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO

Source: The Hindu (Dated November 18 2008)