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Post Vivah , Amrita Rao is one actress who is making all the news and bagging the best projects. She also made her debut in South Indian films with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu's Athidhi . The film released and became an instant hit. Happy by the response, Amrita now wants to be cautious in selecting films. For last six months, she has been put up in Hyderabad working for Athidhi and Shyam Benegal's film. She talks to Indiatimes.com about her career plans for regional films and more.
Your first foray into regional films with Athidhi , which has been received well and people in Andhra are going gaga over your looks. How is the experience?
I am really happy to know that Athidhi has been lapped up by Telugu people. Everyone is enjoying it from masses to college students. I saw the film on the first day first show in Sudarshan, a 70mm theatre and it was an experience I will never forget. I saw people literally celebrating the film. They came with tons of paper and threw it across the screens in joy. Mere Liye Woh Bahut Yadgaar Pal Tha . I felt greater responsibility as an actress.
What was the prime reason for selecting this film as your debut in Telugu?
The first thing that I liked about Athidhi is that my character name in the film is Amrita – my real name. In Bollywood, I played lot of roles but never was I called Amirta in those films. In some movies, I was called Payal, Poonam and in some Sanjana. Apart from this, I liked the characterization of my role in the movie. I like the whole fictitious character coming out of me, which was designed like the female lead in Matrix and trying to do what she probably can't do.
Will you like to do more such fantasy characters in Bollywood?
Yes, I would love to. Actually, I am already talking about this characterization to people in Bollywood. Playing characters like Carrie-Anne Moss in Matrix was real fun. It is like doing a dream character that I have always wanted to do.
Are you happy with the girl-next-door image?
I want to encash on this image. It is always better for an actor/actress to connect with one's audiences. People find me in their daughter, sister or the girl they always knew in their neighborhood. It is important for an actress to be identified by the audiences. I am happy with this image.
Are't you worried it'll typecast you?
From the beginning, I have been doing a variety of films and roles. In Main Hoon Na , I did a modern college girl. While I did a period film ( The Legend of Bhagat Singh ), on other hand, I also played a traditional Indian girl in Shikar. Ishq Vishq and Vivah are all different from each other. I am picking up a variety of roles despite this image.
You seem so anorexic!
(laughs) Really? Well, being petite works for me to sustain in the film world. But I never starve to be slim. I take healthy food and believe I have appropriate weight.
Tell us about Shyam Benegal's film
This film is going to be one of the milestones in my film journey. I have already shot for the film for one month in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad and the whole experience was enriching. Shyamji is one of the directors, I respect and he is an internally known filmmaker. His cinema has always been sensible and good. This time he is doing a satirical comedy and has commercial elements too. Shyam ji is going to surprise lots of people with this film.
What next?
My film with director Niwas – My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves , is going to be released early next year. Then there is Anil Kapoor's home production, Short Cut , starring Akshaye Khanna and Arshad Warsi. Some films are still in the pipeline
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