South actress Priyamani shares her experience working in Hindi films
South actress Priyamani shares her experience working in Hindi films
If there ever was pan-India list of Southern actors who have successfully crossed over to Bollywood, it is without any doubt Priyamani. She has made a mark.
The National Award-winning actor, who fluently speak five Indian languages, has had a successful track record in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and now, in Hindi cinema.
Although kissed the silver screen, way back in 2013, it will still remember the 1234 Get On The Dance Floor song in Chennai Express where she swung her hips next to Shah Rukh Khan.
Ten years later, Priyamani has back-to-back blockbusters in Hindi with the Web series The Family Man and the film, Jawan.
Her latest Hindi film, Article 370, where she plays the gutsy Rajeshwari Swaminathan, joint secretary to the prime minister, is also a hit.
On the work front, Priyamani will be seen in the Eid release, Maidaan, co-featuring
Ajay Devgn.
Priyamani goes had been working on Maidaan for a while and she canniymman’t wait for people to watch it on the big screen.
Post The Family Man, Priyamani was a part of successful projects like Jawan and Article 370, where she played mainstream roles, what is the formula that has worked for her: Priyamani was always a mainstream actress.
She feels happy that the films have worked for her and thinks she is just fortunate, there is no formula.
These are some of the projects that came to her that she couldn’t refuse.
She had been working on Maidaan for a while and she can’t wait for people to watch it on the big screen.
Notedly, when she signs on a project, what interests her the most is the overall script and story.
She would want to know more about the character she is playing and if she thinks that she is capable of doing it, takes it up.
This is what she has been doing since her first film. Fortunately, most of them have worked for her while some have not, which she feels is okay.
Priyamani hasn’t done any homework so far for any of her films. She is a spontaneous actor and follows what works for the character.
Also, she doesn’t take my characters home. The character doesn’t linger with her after pack-up.
But in future, if a character or role needs her to do a certain kind of homework or research, she would be more than happy to do it.
After Baahubali, there is a trend of South directors turning to Bollywood, like Atlee in Jawan, A R Murugadoss has announced a film with Salman Khan. As someone who has worked with Atlee, for Priyamani, each director will have his own vision, and they’ll be the best to comment on that.
But if you are asking her about Atlee and Jawan, the way he has portrayed a hero as a mass figure, the way he should look on the big screen was new to Bollywood.
It probably comes from his background and his inspiration of watching stars like Rajini sir and Shah Rukh… he envisions his characters to look a certain way.
The camera may focus on the hero’s biceps when he is flexing his muscles, or capture the anger through his eyes… they know how to get to the skin of the character through visuals.
Murugadoss sir’s approach, on the other hand, is more natural, and casual. He would most likely capture his hero as a normal person walking on the road.
While both approaches are different, each one can be appealing in their own way. Depending on the story and actor, it helps connect with the audience.
The thing about directors like Atlee or Murugadoss is they know how to cater to the mass audience.
She has worked with superstars Mohanlal, Mammootty, Venkatesh and Shah Rukh Khan, as well as actors like Manoj Bajpayee, she feels each one approaches their characters differently.
When asked what makes Shah Rukh Khan or Mohanlal different from Manoj Bajpayee is how they envision and bring their characters to life, she says the same character can be performed differently by each of these actors.
Sometimes, the actor brings something to the table. But it also depends on what the directors want from the actor.
Some actors, for example, will would add a small characteristic trait or a nuance like the way they adjust their shirt or glasses in a scene, which stays with the character.
For example, in Jawan, she has the young Shah Rukh dusting his hands for effect. It became a style, a personality of the character he is playing.
Some actors would let it be organic.
These are little things you watch and learn.
On working with Ajay Devgn she says ‘briiliant’. Both worked together for 12 to 15 days and she has always admired the variety of films he has done, right from Golmaal which is a no-brainer but very entertaining to Bhoot, which is more serious.
He doesn’t go overboard unless the script demands it.
His body language in each role is different. His eyes speak volumes.
In Maidaan, they share many scenes where she is the one talking and he is just reacting with one word. And even that works so well.
The way he has moulded himself in Maidaan as Rahimsaab (Syed Abdul Rahim) is amazing.
News Edit K.V.Raman
