"Shivaji - The Boss is the biggest budgeted film ever made in Indian cinema" - Shreya Saran

Courtesy: IndiaFM
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Shreya Saran, the South Indian actress who began her career with Telugu films slowly walked her way into the Hindi film industry. But after both her films Thoda Tum Badlo Thoda Hum and Shukriya were major flops, she made a U Turn to Tollywood. And now after completing a Tamil film Sivaji "The Boss with South superstar Rajnikanth, she is back for another take in Hindi films with /">Awarapan. The actress speaks to IndiaFM about her second innings in Bollywood.

Were you disappointed that your first few Hindi films didn't do well?
Yes I was disappointed but it's a part of life. Ups and downs come and go. Sometime you give flop films. In South I gave hit films. I don't think you can blame someone if films don't work. There are so many people involved in one movie not just one person. I expect a lot from my movies. I expect them to do well.

What films are you doing down South?
I started my career with Telugu films and now I am doing Tamil films too. I am doing a Tamil film called Sivaji -The Boss. This film is about lot of social issues. This film was a wonderful experience. Shankar who has directed films like Nayak, Hindustani and Aparichit is the director of the movie. Rajnikant is the biggest super star from South. It was a pleasure to work with him. I've learned a lot from him. A. R Rehman has done its music. It's a biggest budgeted film ever made in Indian cinema.

How different is it working in the Bollywood industry as compared to working in South?
It's the same thing as you have the same camera, you get scripts before hand. I can't really compare because I haven't done much Hindi films but I have done many South Indian movies. So it will be unfair to compare. Secondly I feel its Indian cinema at the end of the day and we all are contributing to Indian cinema. Technically South films are very strong and Hindi films are also evolving. It's a blessing to be a part of Indian cinema because where do you get so many varieties. So I think I am blessed that I am part of Indian cinema.

How did you get a break with the Bhatt camp?
I think its destiny as my manager just called and said Bhatts are in search of a new girl for Awarapan. I met them and I liked the subject. Things fell into place and I decided to work on this project.

How excited are you about your second innings in Bollywood with Awarapan?
Pretty excited! Awarapan is very close to my heart, it's a lovely story. I fell in love with the story when I first heard it. It's something that we all can connect with and that's what I like about this movie. I play a Muslim girl, very intriguing. My character has a nice graph to it.

How was it camping with the Bhatts?
They are wonderful to work with. I interacted more with Mukesh Bhatt. He is a very nice man. He understands a lot about production. He understands the taste of masses. I was treated like a little kid while shooting the film. All of them are very understanding. Everything was well arranged. My character is very well organized. It's very hard to organize everything as a lot of planning is required. But these people are very professional. It's like a family. I interacted with Mahesh Bhatt too.

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