After 'Krack' and 'Naandhi', Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has been extra careful about her roles in Telugu. In 'Kota Bommali PS', she will be seen as a tough and uncompromising cop. In this interview, the talented multi-lingual artist says that she doesn't overthink. "If the story works for me, I go for it. I am playing roles that others can't. At the end of the day, I have to keep proving my mettle as an actor," she says.
Catch her talk more about her role in the Teja Marni directorial that co-stars Srikanth, Murali Sharma, Rahul Vijay and Shivani Rajasekhar. The film heads to the theatres on November 24.
A first-time cop's role in Telugu:
I have donned the cop's attire in Kollywood and Mollywood before this film. For the Telugu audience, this is the first time I am playing a police officer. Every script is different. As such, there is no monotony even though they are all 'khaki' roles. My character's journey in the movie runs in parallel to that of Srikanth. A cat-and-mouse game ensues when Srikanth's Ramakrishna does something that he is not authorized to do.
An elaborate role:
I have seen the Malayalam original 'Nayattu'. I gather that the scope of my character is much more in 'Kota Bommali PS'. It's an elaborate character with a full-fledged part. In the original, my counterpart entered the screen at the interval. This film took greater effort due to the outdoor shoots at nights.
Cop versus cop:
A cop is supposed to toe the line. What happens when he rebels and is labelled a criminal? And an experienced cop is assigned the job of taming such a cop. This premise is what makes this political survival thriller a unique story. Although there are doses of political satire in the film, everything boils down to the story. This is a mind game thriller more than an action thriller. There are Tom-n-Jerry template moments as well.
Tried smoking for this film:
I am not a smoker in real life. It was comical to try smoking for this film. I didn't object to being made to smoke. I respected the director's vision. As an artist, it's my responsibility to adhere to it. I have previously chewed pan masala while playing a character.
Upcoming releases:
I didn't expect 'Krack' to become such a big hit. I am happy for the choices I have made since then in Telugu. I am awaiting the release of 'Hanu-Man', the pan-Indian film from Tollywood. Then there is a Kannada film with Sudeepa which will have a pan-Indian film. 'Sabari' and another film featuring Rajendra Prasad garu are also on the anvil. I have no language barriers. I have also played lead and non-lead roles with equal enthusiasm.
