Meet the managers

Ever wondered what makes K’town actresses such as Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Rakul Preet Singh, Lavanya Tripathi and Regina Cassandra so successful? Talent, hard work, and luck of course — but above all, it is their managers who make their professional lives smoother. When required, they also double up as their protective cover to ensure they are safe. In fact, to most top actresses, their managers are just like family.

‘Like my daughter’
Samantha’s manager Mahendra Babu has been working with her for more than five years. “She is like my daughter. She discusses everything with me before committing to a film. For a film, Samantha only has to attend the script narration and everything else, such as negotiations and scheduling, are taken care of by me. When she is angry with someone, she comes to me to talk about it. And when she’s angry with me, she counts one to ten to cool down!” says Mahendra.

Friends first
Regina Cassandra and her manager I.V. Prasad have been friends for a long time. It was only last year that he started working for the actress. “He’s the worst manager,” jokes Regina, adding, “He’s not just a manager, he’s my family. There was a time when I was really sick and I couldn’t tell my mother about it because she would panic. I could only share it with him. I can talk to him about my personal and professional life and he makes my life easier. Even when I’m too busy to sign a new film, he makes sure that he convinces the filmmaker in a way that there is no misunderstanding.”

“She fondly calls me I.V. child,” says Prasad adding, “I entered the industry as a producer and after experiencing losses, I moved to Dubai to start a business. I then changed my mind and came to India in 2016 and that’s when I started working as a manager to Regina. Being friends with someone you work for can sometimes get tricky, but it’s mostly amazing. We sometimes fight and then patch up. I know that she’s in a good mood when she calls me I.V. child! When she’s angry with me, she’ll call me just I.V.”

Always there for me
Rakul Preet Singh might be one of the top actresses today, and she might get all the credit for selecting the films she does, but she says that there is one man who works behind the scenes who plays a major role in her professional life — Harinath, her manager. Right from the time she made an entry into the film industry in 2013, Rakul has worked with him. She says, “He has become family. He has always had unwavering faith in me. In the beginning, he would run from producer to producer and meet several directors, would work hard and help me with my projects, so I owe a lot to him.”

With Rakul moving to Hyderabad, one of the reasons her parents are assured about her safety is also because of Harinath. “My dad is in constant touch with him and they know that when he is there, everything will be taken care of. Even in the middle of the night, if I ever need help, all I have to do is call Harinath and he will make sure he is there,” she explains.

“Rakul is like a little sister to me,” says Harinath.  “Even today, Rakul calls me and discusses stories and her roles. We started with a professional bond, but today she is family,” says Harinath.

More than a manager
Lavanya Tripathi says that her managers not only help her with her professional life, but also with her personal problems. Says the actress, “My managers, Supriya, Mahender and Seetharam are just like my family members. They are very supportive and have been helpful throughout my career. They have become an important part of my life. I call them if I need anything, without having to worry about what time of the day it is. They also get me home-made food. I remember a time when I was very stressed out due to some personal issues and I had called them at odd hours to discuss my problems. They listened to all of it very patiently. I really value them.”

“She makes sure we have food,” says Lavanya’s manager Seetharam who is all praises for the actress. “Lavanya is a very nice person and takes care of her staff really well. So when you work with a person like that, it’s obvious that you grow fond of them. When she is shooting, we take care of her food and the facilities.

But every time, Lavanya keeps checking if her staff has had food. And if it’s an outdoor shoot, she always makes sure to check where her staff is going to stay. During events or other functions, whatever gifts she is presented with are always passed on to her staff. Also, whenever one of us falls sick and can’t make it for a shoot or an event, she happily accommodates that without throwing any tantrums or looking for an immediate replacement,” adds Seetharam.