I am not running away from glamour - Sameera Reddy

If buzz is to be believed, Sameera Reddy is one of the many surprises that this week's release Red Alert - The War Within has to offer. Though the film has been ready for a while and making rounds of the festival circuits, Sameera Reddy has been patiently waiting for the response to this film back home in India. Based on the Naxal movement in India, the film has Sameera Reddy in an important role but what makes it special is the fact that it has her coming out of the sensual image that has been built ever since she first made waves with the likes of Musafir, Taxi No. 9211, Naksha and Race.

One wonders if after the release of Red Alert, she would be focusing more on off beat subjects. Also, if that would mean that audience will miss Sameera from the past who was all oomphy and knew how to get the glamour quotient bang on film after film?

"No, I am not running away from glamour by any means. That was there and it is going to stay. However, it is nice to bring in variety and after a hat trick of successes like Race, One Two Three and De Dana Dan, it is good to have a release like Red Alert. The film has made waves internationally and I am sure this will continue in India as well, now that the film has arrived in theatres", says Sameera who is positive about getting good recognition coming in for her performance.

Meanwhile she seems to be happy shifting genres. While commercial Hindi films are surely and certainly happening, an offbeat Red Alert along with a few Bengali flicks also forms an important part of her yearly schedule. She must be happy to find herself in a situation like this?

"Of course I am", immediately responds Sameera, "Commercial blockbusters are good because at the end of the day, I have to cater to that rickshaw-wallah as well who is spending his hard earned money to watch me on screen. Yes, this leads to a question whether I am sticking to any particular image or making any conscious effort to change it. Aisa nahi hota hai. At the end of the day I am an actor and there is no conscious or subconscious effort to do something different."

Talking about the variety of roles that are now coming her way with film makers rising up to rope her in for different cinema, Sameera gushes, "It was great to have a role in film like Kaalpurush that won National Award. Red Alert too has had its bag full of awards. Then I have done Yeh Hausla, a film with Nagesh Kukunoor which by far has my best performance. He is definitely one of the best directors I have worked with. It is films like these that make me realise what my true potential is."