Reporter's diary: Actress fights with me for mentioning her age!!

It was one of those Sundays which I would love not to work. But I had to interview actress Vimala Raman over the phone that Sunday as she was busy shooting in Mysore.
The interview went well and I asked her about critics opinion that she looks older than the heroes she is cast with. Predictably, she was pissed off with the question. But I had to get the answer from her for tha question as many who saw her felt she looks 'OLD' .Unwillingly she replied.

I didn't ask her her age as I felt it was impolite for me to ask a woman her age. I googled up and found out that her age was 29.

I mentioned that in the interview. She called me that day. She started fighting with me over the phone for mentioning her age. She said that she is just 25.I was shocked for two reasons. One because she didn't look 25 at all, the other becasuse she didn't want her age to be put up in the interview.

I apologised for not confirming it with her and promised her to come up with an apology in the next day's edition. She agreed to it.

She called me back in five minutes and requested me not to come up with an apology. I was surprised.

She said, " I am 25. But if you come up with an apology in tomorrow's edition, everyone will come to know of my age. I think all those who didn't read the article too will get to know of it. Let us leave it here'

I wonder why actors hide things from people. I know of an actor whose name is Naveen but doesn't want it to be published. I have interviewed a music director whose name is not what he tells it is and he doesn't want it to go on print. I have been interviewing actors and have been writting about the tinsel town for quite some time now. But am still comprehending why they hide simple facts!!!!

Fresh faces flood Tinsel Town

A dozen girls have made their debut in Telugu filmdom in the last two months and are awaiting a golden future on the silver screen. Among the fresh faces are Shamili, Vimala Raman, Shreya Dhanwantari, Payal Ghosh, Madhhurima, Krithi, and Rinil Routh.

While a few film makers claim that it is the exorbitant remuneration of the existing actresses which is forcing them to try new faces, some claim they wanted to generate curiosity among the audience by doing so.

“I am comfortable working with freshers since this is my first movie as a director,” says Sreedhar Reddy, who is introducing five new actors in his upcoming film Sneha Geetham. “I tied up with a TV channel and radio station and selected them through auditions. It generated buzz about my movie.” He adds that many others too are trying new faces because senior actors have too many conditions.

Raj, who directed Boni, couldn’t agree more. Though he had plans to cast a big actress, he couldn’t since most of them had either no dates or remuneration was beyond the budget. “If you cast Genelia or Ileana, people have expectations,” he adds. “They may fail to deliver. But with a new actress, there won’t be that problem.”

All this has given much hope to the freshers. They are all set to give senior heroines a run for their money.“I was selected in an audition in Mumbai,” says Madhurima, a student of law who played the lead in Aa Okkadu. “My first movie has released and I have already signed another titled Mouna Ragam.” “In Bollywood if one is from an influential family or a star kid, it is easy to get roles,” she adds. “For me Tollywood seems to be a place where talent is honoured.” Madhurima is now working hard to pick up Telugu.

There are other debut actresses, who are planning to shift to Bollywood after gaining enough experience. “Working in Telugu movies gives me experience,” says Payal Ghosh, who got the lead role in Prayanam. “I have offers in Bollywood too. I am sure the experience will help me do well in Hindi films.”It is not just remuneration and lack of dates; film personalities claim that audience is also bored of seeing the same old faces on screen.

“In Tollywood somehow, the craze for a heroine doesn’t last long,” says Vijandar Reddy, secretary of the AP Film Chamber of commerce. “The audience wants to see fresh faces.”

Vimala busy with 'Chandramukhi-II'

One of the most talked about among the horde of fresh faces in Tollywood, actress Vimala Raman, a former Miss India-Australia and a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer from Down Under, is on a roll.


Already 10-movies-old, this NRI girl who made her debut with Evaraina Epudaina is all set to start her next Tollywood project opposite Tarun.

Vimala’s career course steered towards movies after winning the Miss India-Australia title. “I came to India for the Miss India world-wide contest and started modelling. That’s when I got a movie offer in Tamil,” she says. The actor who has acted in Malyalam, Kannada and Tamil films, is now focusing on Tollywood. “I am concentrating on Telugu films now as I like the way the industry works. Tollywood also has a more global reach. So, I’m here to stay,” says the actress who has quite a few films in her kitty now.


“I am currently doing Aaptamitra in Kannada which is the sequel to Chandramukhi,” says Vimala Raman. But the critics in the Telugu film industry have been giving the actress a tough time ever since her debut. The 29-year-old actress received much flak that she looks older than her heroes, especially in Evaraina Epudaina, where she starred opposite 20-year-old Varun Sandesh. “It is the director who chooses his actors and visualises how we should look in the movie,” justifies the actress.


“In Hollywood, actresses are often older than actors. It shouldn’t matter at all,” exclaims Vimala Raman who has already acted with the likes of Mammooty and Mohanlal.“I don’t mind being paired with any actor. It is the script and the role which matters. The audience should remember me for my acting,” she adds.


For now, the NRI actress claims, she is in a “happy place”. “I never expected that I could be a part of the Indian film industry. Its a fantasy world that entertains many. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better life,” gushes Vimala.While her busy film career may not leave her with time to pursue her “first love” — Bharatanatyam, the actress says the dance form keeps her fit. “I have been performing for the past 15 years. It is what keeps me fit and makes me look good in whatever I wear,” says Vimala Raman.“I have already begun to get a few offers to perform recitals. I hope to start performing once I am done with shoots.” she adds.

Telugu cinema for World Wide releases!!!

Mana Andhraites all over the globe have much reason to rejoice now. Tollywood is heading the Bollywood way by releasing their movies worldwide. With the 75-million strong Telugu community spread across several countries, filmmakers are taking the “international markets” very seriously.

The overseas rights of big budget flicks are sold for anything between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.75 crore while for small budget flicks, the rights cost around Rs 10 lakhs.
Magadheera is being released in over 15 countries simultaneously and will play on 1,500 screens worldwide, confirm sources with Geeta Arts, the film’s production house.

Naga Chaitanya’s Josh, Ravi Teja’s Anjaneyulu and Junior NTR’s Adurs will also have simultaneous international releases.

Sudhakar Kothamallella, managing partner of Great India films, which buys the overseas rights of over six Tollywood movies every year, says, “We have a tie-up with Adlabs in the US. They have seven screens where we screen these films. In the recent past, Kick, Arundhati, Kotha Bangaru Lokam and Akashamantha did very well at the international Box Office.”

Interestingly, to classify the popularity of actors, distributors use a grading system. Mahesh Babu and Pavan Kalyan movies are the most sought after by T’wood and they are placed in the ‘A++’ category along with directors like Shekar Kammula and Trivikram Srinivas. Nagarjuna, NTR Junior, Dil Raju and Charan belong to the ‘A’ category, while stars like Allu Arjun and Prabhas are placed in A- category.
Directors admit that it is primarily also a profit-driven move. Director P.C. Aditya, reveals, “The collections we get in 10 days from the US market is equal to the 100-day collection here since we are earning in dollars.”

Shyam Prasad Reddy, the producer of Arundhati, agrees. “Every movie’s business opportunity needs to be exploited. Though Telugu movies are not as big abroad as Hindi films, a decent revenue is being generated,” he says. Film critics, who are all for this move, feel this trend is ringing in a great boom. Parcha Sarath Kumar, member of the Censor Board and a senior film critic, says, “Directors are also using this hype abroad to publicise the film here.”

INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLERS*

Ram Charan Teja’s Magadheera sold out for Rs 2 crore.
* Ravi Teja’s Anjaneyulu sold out for Rs 73 lakh.
* Naga Chaitanya’s Josh sold out for Rs 1.1 crore.
* Pavan Kalyan’s Puli sold out for Rs 1.75 crore.

" I am a hardworker "

Kajal Agarwal is one busy actress. Off late, she has been working 14 hours a day, thanks to her three big projects that are lined up for release this year — Magadheera with Ramcharan Tej, Aarya-2 with Allu Arjun and a film opposite Ram.

While every other starlet struggled her way to the top, Kajal admits that right from her debut, she has had a “dream run” in Tollywood.“I am lucky to have bagged such big budget projects. Roles in movies like Magadheera, which is a period film and one of the most expensive ones made in Tollywood, doesn’t come your way everyday. This is certainly a milestone project for me. When I sign up for a project, I take my work seriously. While shooting, I switch off from everything else in my life. I’m happy with my career graph,” says Kajal who attributes her success to her hard work.

Hard work is not the only virtue of this chirpy actress who is known to be the ‘Miss Congeniality’ of Tollywood. Rumours are rife that Kajal is using her people skills to circulate her sister’s portfolio who is also a Tollywood aspirant.

Ask her about her promoting spree and the actress justifies, “My sister, who has attended theatre classes, has already got a couple of offers. It’s totally her call whether she wants to act in movies or not. If she is interested in a role, she will take it up. I will only guide her. I am definitely not promoting her.”But won’t her sister be adding to the competition from the horde of young actors?

“There is fierce competition in Tollywood but it is healthy. Directors choose their actors depending on the character they have in mind. The industry is huge and there is space for everyone,” says Kajal doling out an evasive response.The actress who has dabbled even in Tamil cinema claims that she has her roots fixed in Tollywood because she prefers the Telugu “happy endings” over the dark, “reality” of Tamil movies. “If I come across a good script, I will be ready to act in any industry. But Tamil movies are sometimes too realistic and the truth isn’t always pleasant. There are rarely any sad endings in Telugu cinema and I enjoy that,” says Kajal who even has her eyes set on Bollywood.“I’ve got a couple of Bollywood offers but I haven’t signed up for anything yet. Language is not a barrier. In college, I learnt to appreciate the beauty of different kinds of cinema, be it Japanese or German. It is the story which ultimately matters. I really want to do an intense thriller flick as well,” says this graduate in mass media and Journalism who plans to pursue her MBA. “I have not given up on my education completely. Right now I am focusing on my film career, I plan to study a few years later.”

But her busy career has led her to live a “dual life,” admits this lady. “Stardom hasn’t changed me as a person one bit. So, I have started leading a dual life. My friends and family treat me normally and keep me grounded, while outside it is a world of full of glitz and glamour,” she ends.

"Dad is my Lighthouse"

His first film might have bombed at the box-office, but Ram Charan Tej is back in action with his second movie, Magadheera, a mythological magnum opus. With a planned release in over 1500 screens across 15 countries globally, the Rs 42 crore film is colossal.The 24-year-old who plays the role of a prince is not content with just the power of the numbers. The film will attempt to recreate the magic that Ram Charan’s father Chiranjeevi had created with the song Bangaru Kodi Petta in his film Ghrana Mogudu.

Despite all this, Ram Charan, or Cherry as he is called, has his fingers crossed. “For now I’m not looking at records. I’ll talk about it after the release. We put in a lot of hard work. It took 260 days for us to shoot the film.

While graphics and special effects are just padding, the story will strike a chord with the audience,” he says.While few freshers choose period films, Cherry goes by instinct, “I’ve not designed my career. This script came to me and I took it up. I somehow like period films, the horses, the battles and the costume. After this I want to do a non-commercial experimental film.”As for the failure of his debut, Chirutha, he’s pragmatic, “That movie didn’t yield the results we expected, probably due to audience expectations or flaws in the script. It was a learning experience.”

A B.Com graduate from St. Mary’s College in the city and an alumnus of the London School of Theatre, Cherry says being a star son has both its advantages and drawbacks. “Everybody expects me to dance or act like my dad. My dad has been here 30 years while I am only three-years-old in the industry. He is my inspiration and my lighthouse. But I can’t be him. So, I don’t take feedback from everyone. It disturbs the pattern. Being a star son is certainly more positive than negative. It all depends on how we use it. I am carving my own style.”

Charan is not disappointed over his father’s political debacle, “We did our best. Film charisma alone won’t do. Films are a different ball-game. Political success depends on team work. I have a Chiranjeevi, he doesn’t. So I thought it was my responsibility to support him which is why I campaigned for him.”

The upcoming star however, doesn’t want Tollywood to be a family-driven industry and welcomes fresh faces even while he asserts that he’s working hard to prove himself as an actor,

“Being Chiranjeevi’s son, I have to work doubly hard to prove myself. There are more expectations from me. And if as actors we don’t enhance our qualities and grow with every film, we will be pushed way behind in the fierce competition the industry is seeing these days.”

Fresh from acting schools!!!

With Tollywood witnessing an influx of fresh faces, the competition has never been this fierce. And the freshers are certainly preparing well to face the challenge. Everybody from a lead actor, to a character artiste is heading to an acting school to perfect his/her acting skills, a trend that was previously alien to the industry.Acting school trainers claim that an increasing number of directors are sending their actors to them for grooming.

“Movies involve big money and directors want actors who are well trained. Earlier acting was about being dramatic, but these days it’s all about subtlety,” says Ramanand who has trained actors for the upcoming film, Josh.

Aruna Bhikshu couldn’t agree more. “Director Gunasekhar will use 50 families in his upcoming film and I was asked to train them. There were people from all age groups. I played music, made them dance and play various characters to shed their inhibitions. Their roles required them to cry in the film. I told them to imagine themselves in the role and surprisingly, more than 10 of them actually cried,” she says.

“Thanks to this trend, debutantes are prepared on their first day of shoot,” says producer Suresh Babu. “With the industry gaining tremendous respect in the past decade, many youngsters are choosing it as a career option. Acting schools train them in basics like acting and camera techniques, costumes, expressions and terminology well in advance, in turn making things easier for the filmmakers,” he adds.

Sushanth who trained along with Chaitanya at a Mumbai acting school says, “I was very shy earlier, but an acting course helped me shed my inhibitions. Not only did we learn various acting techniques, but also learnt our strengths and weaknesses.”

And it’s not just youngsters from a non-film background seeking training. Everybody from Rama Naidu’s grandson, Rana to Chiranjeevi’s son Charan is a product of an acting school. A few of them even go to multiple acting schools to orient themselves with every aspect of filmmaking.Actors claim that they are made to do everything from crawling like a baby to dancing to shed their inhibitions at acting schools.

“An acting course helps us shed our camera-shy nature. We shoot a few scenes which are then edited and shown to us. There is nothing like practical experience,” says actor Sharwanand.
Actors’ academy:

* Sharwanand: Satyanand Film Institute
* Navdeep and Kamal Kamaraju:Ramanand Film Institute
* Nikhil, Iliyana and Ram: Aruna Bhikshu Film Institute
* Naga Chaitanya and Sushanth: Creating Characters, Mumbai
* Ram Charan Teja: London School of Theatre
* Daggubati Rana: Barry John Acting School, Mumbai.

Mumaith Khan to shed her hot image!!

She began her career as a group dancer. But the Ippatikinka Naa Vayasu item song in Tollywood blockbuster Pokiri made her a household name in Andhra Pradesh.

Mumaith Khan’s popularity levels have surpassed the fame of big heroines thanks to her scorching item numbers. But she is now queasy about her hot image and wants to do more family movies to reinvent herself as a heroine.

“I have come to know that families leave behind their children when they come to my movies,” she says with a hint of disappointment. “Now I am doing TV shows and family-oriented roles. I have also done item numbers in Magadheera, Kandasamy et al which are prestigious movies.”
For the time being, Mumaith is busy shedding her kilos for her upcoming Telugu movie where she plays the lead.

“I have lost 18 kgs in the last six months,” she said. “I am sure I will reach Size 4 in the next one and a half months. I am doing the whole thing in a healthy way under the supervision of a nutritionist.”

This is not the first time that Mumaith will be seen in a lead role, she had played the lead in Mangatayaru Tiffin Centre, Target and Punnaminagu. But none of the movies did well at the box office. Does this mean that people don’t accept her as a heroine? “My movies are lagging behind perhaps because of the lack of publicity,” says Mumaith. “They did well in other states.”
As part of her image makeover for the new movie of Srimacs productions, Mumaith is planning to wear a saree.

“All these years if my clothes were a little skimpy and glamourous that’s because the producers and directors asked me to wear them. I was being paid to wear them and I did it. My intention was not to show skin. Now that I am playing lead roles, I will be careful about the clothes I wear.”

Mumaith has been linked with almost all her co-stars and even brothers of top heroes. But she rubbishes all these as mere rumours. “These Tollywood celeb bloggers sit in the US and write crap about me,” she says. “They even wrote I got drunk and was raped. They hurt me a lot initially. But now I care a damn about them