Seasoned actress Vijayashanti agreed to play a key role in young actor Kalyan Ram’s next untitled film to be directed by Pradeep Chilkuri. Despite being an election season in Telangana state, the actor-turned-BJP leader has agreed to spare dates for a film shooting. This comes as a big surprise. “She will be drawing a pay of Rs 4 crore for 35 to 40 days work in Kalyan Ram’s film besides she would be playing a significant role. Hence, she has agreed to adjust her dates despite impending political campaign in Telangana state,” says a source.
Actually, Vijayashanti made a comeback of sorts with a key role in Mahesh Babu’s ‘Sarileru Neekevvaru’ and won appreciation for her role as an honest woman who fights against local politicians along with her kids. “She has become very choosy about her roles these days because she is also busy in politics. In fact, she had rejected a couple of offers that weren’t exciting enough. She wants to do a role with substance and which would sustain her stature and dignity,” he adds.
She was last seen in ‘Naayudamma,’ which hit the theatres in 2006 and returned to acting after 13 years for her role in ‘Sarileru Neekevvaru’. “She was the original flag-bearer of women-centric films in Telugu cinema and did swashbuckling movies like ‘Kartavyam’, ‘Osey Ramulamma’ and “Police Lockup’. Apart from playing love interest to superstars like Krishna, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna and Venkatesh to become a numero uno heroine in Telugu in 80s and 90s,” he concludes.
