The artist actress: Surabhi paints whenever she gets time

Surabhi is on cloud nine these days as her Sankranti release Express Raja is a huge hit.

“I am happy about the success as I really worked hard for the film. People are talking about the film, my role and my work. I am getting very positive feedback and am really looking forward for more roles like this,” says Surabhi.

The actress is now busy shooting for her next film opposite Nani directed by Indraganti Mohan Krishna.

The Delhi girl has been interested in films from her school days. “I used to participate in shows during my school days and then I participated in pageants when I entered college,” she says.

She got her first break in Tamil in 2013, when she was in her second year of college. “I balanced both acting and exams at that time. When I had my exams I concentrate on them,” she says.

The actress has also completed her degree in Fine Arts and Painting. “Yes, I paint in mediums like oil and water. I paint portraits and on canvass. It was a four-year degree in Fine Arts,” she says.

Surabhi adds that she still paints whenever she gets the time. “Earlier, whenever I wanted to paint nature, I used to Google and then paint. But now I have got the opportunity to travel a lot and I get many ideas to paint.”

The actress has completed one schedule for her upcoming film with Nani and will join the unit soon in Kodaikanal. “Yes, that’s a beautiful place and I love greenery. I will carry my sketch pad and pencils this time when I go for shooting to Kodaikanal,” says Surabhi.

After a couple of Tamil films, Surabhi debuted in Telugu last year with Beeruva.

“I met Sundeep Kishan in Chennai as we were supposed to work for a Tamil film, but we both opted out. Later he asked me to come to Hyderabad for an audition for his Telugu film Beeruva. I got selected for the film and that’s how my Telugu debut happened,” she says.

Her performance in the film was appreciated and Merlapaka Gandhi roped her in for Express Raja, which was a blockbuster.

In between, Surabhi signed and shot for Ram Gopal Varma’s Attack. “It was a great experienced working with RGV Sir. He never behaves like a big director on the sets. He gives full freedom to artistes and gives us our space. I am comfortable working with him. He gave suggestions which improved my acting skills. That’s why I called him ‘guru’,” says Surabhi.

She adds that she met actors like Jagapathi Babu, Manchu Manoj and Prakash Raj in that film.“It’s a completely different script and my role was not a typical commercial one. I am eagerly waiting for that film which will release soon,” she says.

Surabhi says her first preference is the director and then the story. “I will also look at my character and how important it is in the film, and of course the rest comes next, like the production house, etc.,” she says.

She is now more confident in the industry after working in a few films. “Though I can’t speak the language, I can understand it now,” she says, adding, “There is a bundle of talent here with good technicians and actors.”

The actress wants to have a painting exhibition in the coming years. “In the coming four to five years I want to hold a painting exhibition in Hyderabad and Delhi,” she says, adding that her mother too is an artist.