Priyamani is back in action with Ambareesha. It is the only Kannada film she has signed up for this year and is currently shooting for it. “This is my second day on the sets of Ambareesha, and it is going well so far,” says Priyamani who was last seen in Charulatha. The National-award winning actress says she didn’t find any convincing scripts after the 2012-release.
“I am hungry for good work. Be it in Malayalam, Telugu or Tamil, for me the story should work. That’s one of the reasons I had kept away from Kannada for sometime. When Mahesh Sukhadare approached me with the script of Ambareesha, the role felt different from the usual romantic stuff,” she explains.
Priyamani, whose acting credentials and commercial appeal is envy worthy, is all geared up to reveal the grey side to her through her character in Ambareesha and says the opportunity to play the not-so-good girl was a reason for her to pick up the film. “My character Smitha is an NRI who only likes to deal in dollars and is quite money-minded. Right from the word go, she is engaged in a war of words with Darshan who plays the lead. It’s inspired by Ramya Krishnan’s role in Padayappa. Rather than just romancing the hero, this movie has given me some space for performance,” she says.
Priyamani is also attempting a change in look. “I am an architect in the movie. You won’t see me in regular formal dresses or in just jeans and a t-shirt. I am wearing short dresses and a blazer that give that modern look of an NRI girl,” she adds. Though Priyamani has had the opportunity to act with top heroes of the Kannada industry before, this is the first time she will be seen opposite Darshan. “I have had offers to work with the star earlier, but I could not match his dates. Fortunately, this being a good film, I am confident that our on-screen pair will be talked about. This is the first time we are coming together in a project,” says Priyamani who has met Darshan during CCL matches. “I am sure we will have a lot to discuss about work,” she adds.
Priyamani recently completed shooting for a Malayalam film, The True Story, while she waits for the release of the Telugu film, Chandee, which is being delayed because of the flare-up in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue.