Sanjjanaa, the model turned film actress who shot to fame in 2008 with the Telugu film 'Bujjigadu' directed by Puri Jagannath is today juggling with multiple projects. But Sanjjanaa can’t stop talking about her current project, 'Mahanadhi'.
“The film industry has been very unpredictable, but talent is surely recognised. How the film, 'Mylari' broke the barrier to get me good offers, and how one song in Narasimha gave me 'Mahanadhi' proves it."
The film, which is done with Rs 6.5 crore budget under a big banner, is on the lines of the superhit movie 'Arundathi'. “Apart from big money and big production house, the script of 'Mahanadhi' is based on the same lines of the blockbuster Telugu film, 'Arundathi' for which Anushka Shetty was applauded. To top it up, it is totally a contrast role for an actress like me, who has always done ultra modern roles.
"It is the first time that a heroine-centric film is coming my way. I need to get into the role and perfect myself now.”
Not taking the character lightly, the actress made sure she does her homework, before she started off with the project. “I have to prove my mettle in this film because if not now, when will it be?,” asks Sanjjanaa, who absconded from Bangalore for over a week and stayed near the sea shores of Udupi to observe the dressing and the body language of the fishermen ladies.
Sanjjanaa may not want to make noise like before but the rage in her to perform is still on. “I was being talked and written more for my personal life and affairs. It was somewhere not good for my image. Everybody has to grow. Of late, I step out only with very close friends and tweet more about my films,” she declares.
Work-wise, the actress been a household name in southern industry. She says, “If you look back, I did not have a good start but later, worked in some big films. This year I started with 'Narasimha'. In the pipeline, I have 'Sagar' coming up followed by 'Rebel', 'Ondukshnadalli' and 'Mahanandhi'. In Tollywood, I have 'Yamaho Yamaha' for which, I recently travelled abroad. I am extremely serious with good projects and have become a total workaholic.”
Apart from focusing on Kannada and Telugu films, she is determined not to take up films, which require her to play second lead nor is she keen to work with new banners. “I will not take the risk even if I lose out on projects. I want to be part of countable good films,” she says.
But with even big banners having failed to excite the audience, Sanjjanaa feels, “I am not sure whether the film will be a hit or not as it is in nobody’s hands.
But I have started believing that richly released film will at least go to the nook and cranny of the state. It is better to be known by everybody rather than sitting and waiting for your film to release.
I have burnt my fingers with 'E Sanje' as it took nearly two-and-half-years to be released. I don’t want to repeat the same mistake,” she explains
The best is yet to come from Sanjjanaa, she says. “I crashed into the industry and did some films on trial and error basis. Now it is time for the audience to see some big action from me,” she concludes.