Popular Tollywood actress Lakshmi Manchu, who is playing a cop in the movie ‘Agninakshatram’, hailed Bollywood director Rohit Shetty in a song for dishing out swashbuckling cop stories like ‘Singham’ and ‘Simmba’. The daughter of senior Telugu actor, Mohan Babu, Lakshmi has now become a sought-after action queen after taking on the mighty Mohan Lal in ‘Monster’. She has two films including ‘Gamble’ in hand, along with an exciting Telugu web series. She shares her plans with Deccan Chronicle.
Q: Why is a Telugu actor hailing B-town director Rohit Shetty in a song?
A: Director Rohit Shetty is the best in his business and deserves kudos for bringing dignity and respect to an upright cop in ‘Singham’. On the other hand, he showcased grey shades of a cop in his other blockbuster ‘Simmba’, making cops more humane and relatable. As I am doing a cop story, we felt that hailing him in the song ‘Telusa Telusa’ would be appropriate and justified in our film ‘Agninakshatram”. In this song, we have used swanky cars like Lamborghini and Ferrari, and all cars together cost Rs 60 crores at display in this lavish setting.
Q: Have you ever met Rohit Shetty in person?
A: Although I had been to many Bollywood film events and parties, I couldn’t meet him in person. That shouldn’t take away the opportunity of praising his body of work and commitment, like a long-distance admirer. He also modernized and stylized police stories and brought them into mainstream cinema. So a small tribute from our end.
Q: You won accolades for your action sequences with Mohan Lal in the Malayalam film ‘Monster’.
A: The slam-bang action episode fetched me loads of appreciation but I haven’t signed any Malayalam movie yet but discussions are on. Frankly, my punches and leg kicks besides flexibility impressed director Ram Gopal Varma, while we were doing a Telugu film ‘Dongala Mutha’. He took an extra day and shot a full-on kickass action sequence with me. Maybe, he was impressed with my quick reflexes and agility. It is also true that I am flexiing my muscles much these days.
Q: You are playing a doctor in an untitled Tamil film?
A: I am shooting in Kodaikanal and essaying the role of a doctor, in contrast to my serious cop role, in this untitled Tamil film with a talented team of the late KV Anand. I can’t reveal anything more at this stage. I am exploring digital space again as I have signed an exciting Telugu web series. I am not taking more offers since I am giving less time to my daughter Nirvana, which is unfair. Just waiting to rush back home.
