Judging an actress by her looks is pass©

Shraddha Srinath has been choosy about her roles from the start of her career. Perhaps that’s why she had done only around 22 films in her nearly-decade-long stint in the industry, and it hasn’t quite sunk in for her yet that she’s an actress.

“Recently while I was on a film set, and my thoughts were elsewhere, an Assistant Director called out, “Ma’am, shot ready,” and it struck me all of a sudden that acting is what I do for a living. Nine years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it,” she says.

Shraddha feels that sometimes, in their eagerness to excel in their profession, actors obsess about the ‘what next?’ angle, and forget to be mindful. She says actors need to give themselves a pat on the back now and then, especially when they’re feeling low, and be grateful for their body of work. “If we don’t appreciate ourselves, how can we expect validation from the outside world,” she asks, and asserts that one has to be one’s own cheerleader.

After the super success of HIT 2, Shraddha had expressed a wish to work with director Sailesh Kolanu in HIT3. And she got a call from the filmmaker’s team for the upcoming film Saindhav, starring Venkatesh. What piqued her interest, she says, were the elements that are different from regular films.
 
She plays a cab driver in the film, but Shraddha says there’s more to her character. “The film, which showcasing a beautiful father-daughter relationship, is also about a girl suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). I felt it was a great way to raise awareness about SMA while,” she shares.

Shraddha considers working with Venkatesh an interesting experience. They had deep and insightful discussions, as they have a lot in common. Both are foodies and sport enthusiasts —  particularly of Formula 1 (F1).

In her journey Shraddha has managed to stay detached from success and failures. She doesn’t take either compliments or disparagement seriously. When she landed a Kannada film U-Turn (2016) as a lead actor, many questioned her choice. Although she knew that she could pull off the role, she was worried whether audiences would accept her in a ‘not-so glamorous’ role. But the film become a blockbuster. “The first thing I did was to recall all the moments where people questioned my ability. I realised that as humans, we naturally tend to focus on negative things, so since then I made a conscious effort not to get swayed by either ups or downs,” she recollects. In an industry where actors are judged by their looks and physical appearances, Shraddha says that seeking validation for how you look is no more in vogue. ‘To judge an actress by her looks is passé,” she comments.  

“I have done several roles that are artistically challenging.  The grammar of acting in masala films is different and I am not familiar with commercial films. So, I have to push myself beyond my comfort zone to do such films. If Saindhav works, then yes, I am cut out for commercial films as well,” she says.
To her, success is not about going on a signing spree, but about receiving constant love from audiences. Being part of multiple industries is validation that she is no longer just a Kannada actor.

“It means I have more to choose from. Even if I turn down an offer in Telugu, I am working in another industry. I’m very picky, but I continue to get good work. What I am building here (body of work) is sacred and I don’t want to ruin it, she says, adding that OTT has prompted actors and filmmakers to experiment with a variety of roles.

I have done several roles that are artistically challenging.  The grammar of acting in masala films is different. So, I have to push myself beyond my comfort zone to do such films. If Saindhav works, then yes, I am cut out for commercial films as well