Bollywood heroines are turning producers, take for example Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra and Chitrangada Singh who are venturing into a male-dominated territory. Sandalwood is not far behind. Sruthi Hariharan and Rachita Ram debuted as producers this year with short films, and the latest to mark her entry as producer is Sharmiela Mandre. The actress tells City Express her plans: “The production house will be named Sharmiela Mandre Productions, which will start on projects in 2018”.
Sharmiela started her career in Sandalwood as the female lead in Sajini and then, the actress who has mostly done Kannada films also made her mark in Tamil and Telugu. She has also done a Bollywood movie Katha in 2017, and it is now in post-production.But her association with production has been much longer. Her father Dayananda Mandre is a known distributor in Sandalwood and so are her grandfather and uncles, who were also movie producers.
“I grew up listening about production and its details, I don’t have to learn this from scratch,” she says. “What has been in the family for generations, I want to carry it forward. I have my family’s support, and they are familiar with its workings as producers and distributors. This has been mine plan for a while and now is the right time for it,” says Sharmiela, adding, “We have done well as heroines and therefore we can shine as producers as well. Take Anushka Sharma for example.” Sharmiela says that she has always been passionate about filmmaking. “Though acting is my first love, I have always taken an interest in the technical aspects of a movie. With my banner I plan to go good movies, driven by content and script.”
The actress adds that she won’t be acting in all the movies she will be producing. “I want a cast of newcomers,” she says, adding, “In case I don’t find the apt person, then I would work with established artistes too.”She says that we can expect a big announcement from her in 2018, and adds that her commitment to acting will remain. “I can mutli-task and a few actresses are doing it anyway,” she says.
Sharmiela is gearing up to be part of a thriller, which will be heroine-centric film, and she plays the protagonist.“It will be by a new comer who has experience in helming short films, she says. “He has come up with a good subject and has etched out my character well. More details about the director and the cinema will be revealed soon,” she says.