Latest news with #Varalaxmi
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sruthi Hariharan: Representing women in their mid-30s in cinema is vital
Sruthi Hariharan states that actors live in two different and contrasting worlds. "There is an actor's world, and there is my real world. For 15 years, I have managed to find my balance between those worlds," says the actress who was recently seen in the Tamil cinema with the courtroom drama The Verdict, her first release in the language after eight years! In a chat with us, the National Award-winning actress talks about why she feels OTT is helping women in cinema, balancing between work and being a mom, her plans to turn director, and more. Excerpts: 'There are fleshed-out characters written for women across age groups' Delving into how OTT has changed the game for women in cinema, Sruthi says, 'In today's world, where OTT exists and writing has depth, women are no longer just used as pretty faces — at least in most films. There are fleshed-out characters written for women across age groups. I am in my mid-30s, and I think representing women in their mid-30s in cinema is vital. OTT has definitely opened gates for different narratives to be explored. ' 'I got a chance to step away from domestic duties for one month' The Verdict was shot mostly in the US, and taking us through her experience of shooting abroad as a working mom, Sruthi says, 'I've done many films after I had my daughter, but this was the first time that I was away from Bengaluru. So, I got a chance to step away from my domestic duties for one whole month and experience the feeling of what it is like to be a full-time actor. I was always balancing between work and being a mom, and the film gave me a chance to lose myself in my art. Women need to take out time for themselves and give themselves a break.' She admits to having mom guilt, but adds, 'There were spurts of guilt that I would feel, especially because communication was a bit difficult due to the time zones. But I knew that she was happy, as she was well taken care of by my husband and mother-in-law.' 'Varalaxmi is strong-willed; Suhasini ma'am is a legend' Talking about her co-stars in the film, Suhasini Maniratnam and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar , she says, 'Varalaxmi is strong-willed and knows exactly what she wants. The personality she brings into a space is endearing. You cannot help but take notice of her. Suhasini ma'am is a legend. I'd go to her before a scene and ask whether we could rehearse together. I hope it did not bug her too much.' Interestingly, she had played Suhasini's younger version in the Kannada film Ambi Ning Vayassaytho (2018). Reflecting on it, she says, 'The makers showed me a picture where I look like her, and I was like, 'OK, we do seem similar'. ' 'I'm not a spontaneous actor' Describing herself as a "partial method actor", she says, 'I'm not a spontaneous actor. I need to rehearse; I'm a partial method actor. If I have an intense scene, I have to stay in the mood. I cannot break away, laugh in one corner and immediately change as soon as they say 'action'. This is one of the reasons why I am an actor. I consider acting as an escape from my reality. I'm currently working on a Kannada film where I play an antagonist for the first time. My character's core belief is that if somebody doesn't listen to her, she can take their life. It's such an intense emotion to feel, so imagine method acting to that! You end up feeling so much anger within you, and to feel that was challenging. For instance, to get bloodshot eyes, I would crouch and hold my breath for some time." 'My aspirations have changed from just being an actor' Talking about her aspirations at this stage in her career, Sruthi reveals, 'As an actor, I have become more mature and calm. There is a lot that I want to do. My aspirations have changed from just being an actor; I want to write and direct. In fact, that process is happening. I lost a few years to COVID, and also was on hiatus after my baby. I'm now back with so much fire in my belly, and am not going to leave any stone unturned.' Sruthi's faves — Radhika, Tillotama, Kani & Nimisha Revealing her favourites among contemporary actresses, Sruthi shares, 'I really like Radhika Apte 's choice of films. I also enjoy what Tillotama Shome and Kani Kusruti are doing. And Nimisha Sajayan is totally killing it.'
Hans India
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar's powerful look from ‘Police Complaint' unveiled
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, acclaimed for her intense performances in South Indian cinema, is set to thrill Telugu audiences with her upcoming horror-thriller Police Complaint. The film's first look was unveiled on the occasion of Superstar Krishna's birthday, giving fans a glimpse of Varalaxmi in a never-before-seen avatar. Directed by Sanjeev Megoti, known for films like Aghora, Pourusham, and Adiparvam, Police Complaint delves into the concept of 'Chain Reaction of Karma,' where every action has a consequence. The director promises a gripping blend of horror, action, and thrills. 'We're exploring karma through a horror-thriller lens, and Varalaxmi's character will keep audiences hooked,' he said. Produced by Singapore Balakrishna and Mallela Prabhakar under MSK Pramidasri Films and Sri Vishnu Global Media, the film features a powerful ensemble including Naveen Chandra, Krishnasai, Ragini Dwivedi, Ravi Shankar, Aditya Om, Amit, and Rajashree Nair. The team has also confirmed a special tribute song to Superstar Krishna, which they believe will be a standout element of the film. The producers expressed their excitement, stating, 'We are mounting this project on a grand scale. Varalaxmi's performance and the tribute song will be major highlights. Sanjeev Megoti's vision is coming to life with precision.' The supporting cast includes well-known faces like Sharath Lohitashwa, Srinivas Reddy, Sapthagiri, Gemini Suresh, Jabardasth Naveen, and child artist Baby Tanasvi. With shooting progressing briskly, Police Complaint promises a fresh cinematic experience for fans of the thriller genre.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar Interview: No one has leveraged my full potential yet
While Hollywood cinema's origins could be traced back to vaudeville, Tamil cinema descended from the loquacious street plays. So, its long-standing marriage with the inherently verbose courtroom drama genre is a match made in heaven. Joining Tamil cinema's rich history of legal dramas is the upcoming film, The Verdict. Starring Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Sruthi Hariharan, Vidyulekha Raman, and Prakash Mohandas, the upcoming film is curiously set in the USA. 'The Verdict is a combination of a thriller and a courtroom drama. I've played lawyer roles before, but this film is set in the US, where the legal proceedings are different. A good part of the dialogues are in English and some of the cast are American, so I thought that the challenge would be interesting to tackle,' says Varalaxmi Sarathkumar. She then adds, 'It gets boring if you're not challenged as an actor.' Even though the film is set in another country, the actor believes that the story doesn't necessarily have to justify its location every time. She says, 'Sometimes you need the story to justify the setting, but it can also act as an exotic and aesthetic choice. Audiences are used to watching films from other industries as well. We can relate to English language films set in London because stories are relatable, and that is the key factor, not the location. We have seen films set in Thoothukudi and then stories set in Kerala. In The Verdict, the story happens in Texas.' Varalaxmi believes that the dearth of courtroom dramas in Tamil cinema has very little to do with our seeming disinterest in the genre. 'Genres don't die,' she says, before continuing, 'We might not be getting a lot of courtroom dramas in Tamil the way we used to get in the 80s and 90s, but that doesn't mean we have completely lost interest in that format. Genres are seasonal. Suddenly, we might witness a spree of thrillers or adult comedies or horror films or mass masala films. Cinema goes through its cycles.' Varalaxmi then points to Jai Bhim as a recent example of a Tamil courtroom drama. Ruminating on the seasonal changes in cinema, Varalaxmi reflects on how even trends and aesthetic choices go through their own cycles. 'The 80s used to be the go-to era for a nostalgic setting, but even the aesthetics of the 90s and early 2000s are mined for nostalgia nowadays. Films set in the 80s might be considered period films now,' she says in a lighthearted tone, before adding, 'I guess that's life.' On the topic of period films, Varalaxmi shares how she would like to be a part of films with a historic setting like the Baahubali duology, Troy, and Gladiator. She then adds, 'I would also love to do comedy films. I've signed on to do a couple of comedy films in Telugu, and I'm looking forward to them. Madha Gaja Raja, the recent comedy that the actor starred in, went on to become a box-office hit despite its delayed release. 'It is a vintage comedy and you get to see Santhanam in a full-fledged comedy role after a long time. It's been a while since we saw that kind of mass masala entertainer,' says Varalaxmi, dissecting the surprisingly healthy box office reception of the film, which was initially planned for a release in 2013. 'I think I will eventually end up directing films,' says Varalaxmi, on the topic of her future plans. However, she feels that her passion for acting has not been completely satiated. 'I will move on to the next step only after my passion for acting has been satiated. I don't think anybody has leveraged my full potential as an actor yet,' she signs off.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dance Jodi Dance Reloaded 3: Judge Varalaxmi Sarathkumar opens up about the importance of sex education
In the reality show Dance Jodi Dance Reloaded 3 , judge Varalaxmi Sarathkumar praised Prajana and Gagana's powerful performance. She said, 'Brilliant performance, and your dance is dedicated to all the victims.' Varalaxmi also took the opportunity to express her thoughts on the pressing need for sex education in India .. The actress, known for her outspoken views and social awareness , shared her concerns about the lack of proper sex education in the country. Varalaxmi pointed out a glaring contradiction: 'In India, we should not talk about sex, but we are number one in population. I don't know why this is the case,' she said, emphasising the need for an open, informed approach toward sex education. 'Sex education should be taught to everyone in our country, just like it is in other parts of the world.' The actress made an impactful analogy to drive her point home. 'In the UAE, if someone steals, the government takes strict action by cutting off the thief's hand. India also needs to take strong action when it comes to women's safety. We need to ensure that people are well-informed and educated about their bodies and relationships,' she said, calling for stronger measures to bring awareness.
