Images inspired by Raja Ravi Varma

“Isn’t that a dream come true? Every woman has seen herself in at least one of his (Raja Ravi Varma) paintings and thought of how would I look in that painting,” relishes Lakshmi Manchu when asked about how she felt being shot for a photograph inspired by the painting.

She further exclaims it being a special moment to be able to replicate that and to be shot by G Venket Ram. The images were shot three years ago in an event initiated by Suhasini Maniratnam. At the set there were women from all walks of life and they were alive like Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings walking around that day.

The shoot was planned well, as the team exactly knew what they wanted; right from the hair, make-up and the costumes team to the photographer, everyone knew what they had to do.

When her family got to know about the same, they were all excited. “We as actors do many roles and characters and we are in and out of different fields. It wasn’t such a shock but was a humble experience.”

A memory from the day of the shoot and the set brought chuckle to her face and she exclaimed: “All these amazing actors from the 80’s, getting ready in one room. There was hair and make-up, and people helping each other look perfect. It was a perfect afternoon that I will never forget. It was beautiful and magical. It was at Park Sheraton (Crowne Plaza now). I heard Vani Ganpathy ma’am singing live for the first time. I was having a fan-girl moment there. I was telling her how much I love her and can I say it again I love you so much.”

Lakshmi Manchu also revealed that she has a couple of web-series lined up but everything is at very initial stage for her to say anything further.