HYDERABAD: Films, television shows and web series... Lakshmi Manchu’s hands are full of opportunities across mediums. She says she’s choosing scripts that hold a mirror to society and roles that complement her maturity. The multifaceted talent opens up about her upcoming thriller W/O Ram and industry issues in this exclusive interview.
Promise of greatness
I like making small, independent films that push boundaries. Sometimes, to cash in on this, people come to me with cheththa scripts. My last release Lakshmi Bomb was a big heartbreak for me. I liked the script and believed it would be great.
I thought every sibling will relate to the film. When I was seeing the film in dubbing theatre, I was completely in shock. By then, I’d already called on Manoj (Manchu) and shot the climax as I knew that the ending had to save the film. When people came out of the theatres, they were all praise for my performance. That’s not enough as a film works only if there is a collaborative effort.
No holds barred
I had a blast shooting for my upcoming Netflix series, Mrs Subbalakshmi, as it gave me full freedom. I didn’t have to worry about the length and the dialogues. Unlike films, web series aren’t censored, and that gave us a chance to use words like ‘arey… nee yenkamma’. It’s going to be amazing.
Mother’s dream
Learning that there is a child actor’s role in Mahanati, I called on Swapna Dutt to find out if my daughter would fit into that character. But she was too young. I dream of seeing her onscreen. I want to create memories with her. My father was protective and raised us away from the arc lights. So, I am trying to tell my daughter about being humble and treating everybody equally.
Friends forever
I’ve found a great friend in Jyothika. On Tuesday, she sent me a two-and-half-minute voice note telling me many amazing things. I’ll be saving it, so I can play it every time I have a bad day. Suriya and I have been friends even before he got into the industry. Until now, Jyothika and I didn’t know much about each other. It feels great to hear such things.
A crusader for women
We have set up a complaint box at the Producer’s Council. We have created a group with eight women and are trying to bring people from different professions together. We were not aware of the issues as the industry is run by men. Some people didn’t pay my remuneration in full and despite my background, I walked into the council and complained. The media took it in a different way and it all got personal. The whole issue was blown out of proportion.
That’s why I didn’t feel the need to talk till someone from the media fraternity objectified the industry women. You are in a position of power; how can you do that? You are less than a scum for doing all this. Even animals are better than you. I’ve got a lot of calls asking me why I am fighting with the media. I believe if someone is wrong, tell them. We went to the minister, complained to the commissioner and nobody did anything. The system is not wrong in the industry and the problem lies with the government. So, who am I to talk about some issue which is consensual? We don’t want to shout, but if a situation demands, we will raise our voice. The Vishakha Guidelines don’t work for the film industry. We are considering tweaking it. It’s a work in progress.
My daughter, my star
I had the most magical moment this morning. I told her, “Darling, my movie is releasing. It’s a scary movie. Do you want to see it?’ She asked me if there would be a lot of fighting. I told her no, but that there would be a lot of searching. She asked what my character loses in the film. Obviously, I couldn’t say husband, and told her the title instead.
She instantly figured I’d be losing a person called Ram. I was blown away. She is four, remember? When we go out, nobody takes pictures with me anymore. Instead, they ask me to click a picture with her. She has become a star! Recently, she accompanied me onto the sets of Kaatrin Mozhi in Chennai. Jyothika was shocked to see her distributing biscuits on the sets. She asked me how my daughter wasn’t uncomfortable on the sets, like her children are. Well, she just isn’t.
Role of a homemaker
Although I’m not one, I love the idea of being a homemaker. When Deeksha’s role (from W/O Ram) came to me, I got excited for this reason. It’s a girl-next-door role and I fell in love with it so much that I would have done it without charging a penny (laughs). The film shows the journey of a helpless woman in search of her husband’s killer. Director Vijay Yelakanti is particular about the color palette, costumes, and every little detail.
I tried to bring out the subtle nuances in the character. Usually, people are too intimidated to approach me as I’m tall and have a deep voice. However, my co-star Samrat and I know each other for some time now and so, he wasn’t intimidated by me. In any case, I always try to make my co-stars comfortable.
— Murali Krishna CH
muralikrishna.db@newindianexpress
@onlymurali