50 movies on and going strong
With ‘Thoongavanam’, it’s a momentous Diwali this year, says the actress
By : anupama subramanian
Update: 2015-11-09 23:34 GMT
Occupying the top slot for over a decade and touching the half-century mark of movies is not an easy thing for any heroine in the industry. Disproving the adage that a heroine’s screen-life is short in south Indian cinema, our own Chennai ponnu Trisha, with her sheer talent and ravishing looks to match, has transcended and reached the 50 movies mark. Even as Thoongavanam is hitting the marquee today, it is a double dhamaka for Trisha, who speaks her heart to DC in an exclusive about how special this Diwali is, and much more.
The VTV actress, who is teaming up with Kamal Haasan for the second time, says that it was a heady experience working with him. “It’s an honour firstly to work with Kamal sir and that too for a second time. God has been very kind. And to know that a person like him has confidence in you, is truly a blessing. I would like to have his passion and zest for anything he does and the way he treats every film like his first”.
When asked how significant Thoongavanam is to her, she promptly replies, “It’s very important firstly because it’s my 50th flick. Secondly, it’s a mammoth film with a superstar, and thirdly because it’s coming out on Diwali which is an auspicious day for us Indians”. About her preparation for role of tough cop, as well as dubbing her own voice, she says, “All credit goes to Kamal sir and also to Gautami ma’am because she took care of my entire hairstyling and image. Hardly any makeup was used on me! And Kamal sir was with us throughout rehearsals, doing readings and teaching us small little things like hand gestures and body language.”
She adds that Kamal gave her the guts to dub in her own voice — “I could pull off my challenging role only with his help and guidance.” It has been a long journey for Trisha who has seen highs and lows in her career. “It’s taught me to be wise, patient, to stay grounded as a person, and that hard work always pays. I also learnt not to be affected by the outside world.” The star has always loved the Diwali spirit — the buzz on the roads, colourful clothes and beautiful fireworks. “But this year, I am back in Chennai just for a day on the 10th. So I am planning to watch Thoongavanam along with the audience at a city theatre. I’ll probably spend a quiet dinner with my family and friends because it’s been a mad, hectic week,” she muses.
She also has advice for those who have pets, to protect them from crackers, “I’m strictly against noise pollution, so any noisy cracker is a strict no-no because my dogs hate the noise and also it’s traumatic for our street dogs as well. If you love animals, refrain from anything loud. Because they are a mess during Diwali! Keep them with you always if possible in a room with the TV on. Also earmuffs might help.”
On the topic of getting hitched, Trisha laughs, “When it’s with the right person who I want to see after getting up each day, I definitely will take the plunge”. Is she finally at a level where she accepts only meaningful offers? The actress smiles in conclusion, “I always believe in having a mixed bag. So as much as I like heroine-centric films and challenging roles, I wouldn’t think twice about signing something which has a big star, and a huge star cast.”
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