After debuting in Tamil cinema this year, and making her mark with back-to-back hits in the form of Kaatru Veliyidai, Ivan Thanthiran and Vikram Vedha, Shraddha Srinath is visibly ecstatic. Yet, she talks about Richie as if it was her first film. “Technically, Richie is the first Tamil film I signed way back in May 2016,” says the actor. She is happy that this film too showcases her acting skills than just reducing her to eye candy.
“Richie is an investigative thriller in which I play Megha, a crime reporter,” she says. The story, she believes, has a huge potential. It takes her character to Thoothukudi and Manapad where she meets the rest of the main characters. Srinath is full of praise for the film’s debutant director Gautham Ramachandran and co-star Nivin Pauly. “Gautham has vast knowledge of world cinema. He’s also an excellent writer who has an eye for great visuals.” About working with Nivin, she says they don’t play a typical couple in the film. “Nivin and I have limited scenes together. But we do have a connection in the film, which people will find out at the end.”
She says she got to know Nivin better while promoting the film than while shooting. “He’s so humble and down to earth. It’s hard to believe that someone who’s so popular can be so committed. His choice of films shows the passion he has for cinema,” says the young actor.
Richie is the remake of the Kannada film, Ulidavaru Kandanthe, which Shraddha did not watch before they began filming. “The makers were surprised that I hadn’t watched the original. I think it worked in my favour that I didn’t know what was going to happen next. Only after 70 per cent of the shoot got over, did I watch it. Incidentally, I haven’t watched the final cut of Richie either. But what I do know is that they’ve reworked the entire film.”
Srinath says she’s extremely choosy when it comes to scripts. “I believe in well-written characters. I like to think of myself as an actor first. I like to take time and do good films than just rush into projects.” But that doesn’t mean she prefers offbeat films. “We have all grown up watching masala films and I love to dance. If it’s a big banner film with a huge star, which actor will say no?” asks the actor, who’s also cautious against getting stereotyped.
“I don’t want to be known for doing only serious films. You can make wonderful commercial films too with comedy and love. Naseeruddin Shah, for example, does serious roles, and then follows it up with a light film. You can pull off anything if you are a good actor.” Being someone, who has worked across all languages from down south, Srinath believes there’s pressure to keep “reminding people that you are there.”
So far, Srinath has worked with both experienced filmmakers and newcomers. “The experienced directors know a lot about filmmaking, while the newbies have a hunger for good films,” says the actor, who’s in talks for Udhayanidhi Stalin’s next with PS Mithran of Irumbu Thirai fame. She also has a film with Kshanam director Ravikanth Perepu, an urban romcom tentatively titled Krishna and His Leela, and another film with the working title, Eedu Jodu, in the pipeline.