Apna sapna, Mani, Mani: Shraddha bags cameo in Mani Ratnam's next
Most actors aspire to work with the legendary Mani Ratnam, but there are very few who actually get to live their dream. UTurn actress Shraddha Srinath belongs to the latter category. The spunky actress has bagged a cameo in Mani Ratnam’s upcoming Tamil film Kaatru Veliyidai, which stars Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari.
Starting shooting for the film on July 12, and having met the celebrated filmmaker, an elated Shraddha says, “I couldn’t utter a word in front of him. I was so awestruck! He kept calling out my name and I couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. He’s very particular about what he wants. I had never met someone who directly shows us what is to be done and I found that amazing. He is so energetic on the sets. He manages to crack jokes and scold his ADs at the same time. I was completely in love and was staring at him like an idiot!”
While shooting for the flick, Shraddha did manage to have a tete-a-tete with the director. “We spoke for a really long time, I thanked him for giving me a chance to work with him. I asked him many questions about the film and he did ask about me as well. He told me that he hadn’t seen my film UTurn but he had heard that it was a hit. It was really an experience of a lifetime,” smiles the actress.
Shraddha, who finished shooting for the film on Monday, maintains that her cameo isn’t a ‘blink and miss’ one. “I was hesitant that it would be a fleeting role, but I was told that I shouldn’t go by the term ‘cameo’ as mine was an important role and that my character’s presence would be there throughout the film. It sounded exciting to me. The reason I’m doing the film is Mani sir,” she says.
On a parting note, Shraddha takes a walk down memory lane and tells us that her favourite Mani Ratnam film is the super hit Bombay. “From Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala’s chemistry to moving scenes that break your heart and the unforgettable music, the movie was a masterpiece. When I look back, I have so many beautiful memories of it,” she says.
