Priyamani on the difference between Bollywood and South shoots: 'In the South, we actually start on time'

Time of India

10-05-2025

Priyamani about body image and weight struggle
It's not often that an actor manages to carve a space for themselves across industries, languages, and styles—but Priyamani has done just that. From winning hearts in the South with powerhouse performances in films like Paruthiveeran, Thirakkatha, and Chaarulatha, to holding her own alongside Bollywood heavyweights like Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan and Manoj Bajpayee in The Family Man, the National Award-winning actress has shown that talent speaks louder than borders. With her recent role in Article 370, she's once again proved her versatility and staying power.While Priyamani's onscreen journey has been seamless, transitioning between industries came with its own set of surprises. In a candid moment, the actress opened up about the behind-the-scenes contrast between South Indian cinema and Bollywood. 'The working style is mostly the same—barring the language, the director, the producer, and your co-stars. But one thing that really stood out to me was punctuality,' she revealed.According to Priyamani, South film sets are sticklers for time. 'If the call time is 8:00 AM, we start rolling at 8:00. Everyone is on set by 6:30 or 6:45, hair and makeup is done, and we're ready to go. You don't waste time—it's all very disciplined.'Bollywood, on the other hand, took some adjusting to. 'Here, if the call time says 8:00, that's when people start arriving on location. Initially, it was a shock to me. I'd be ready by 6:30, only to be told, 'Madam, people get here at 8:00. No need to come so early.''Despite the cultural shift, Priyamani took the change in stride. 'I had to learn the hard way, but now I'm used to both. Even now, if the call time is 8:00 AM, I'll reach by 7:30 or 7:45.'In the same interview, Priyamani opened up about her experience with body image in the spotlight. While she never felt pressured to look a certain way, there was a time when she gained significant weight—around 64–65 kilos—due to an internal health issue. Though it wasn't visible on screen then, she realized it later and began a weight loss journey after consulting several doctors. Fortunately, people around her were accepting of her appearance. However, after losing a lot of weight, some—including her family—felt she looked too thin. Still, she felt happy seeing herself on screen and adjusted things in her own way.