'Akhanda' will be released in theatres on December 2. In this interview, actress Poorna talks about working with Nandamuri Balakrishna, director Boyapati Srinu, her other projects, and more.
Doing 'Akhanda' has been a very happy experience. It has been many years since I became an actress. I was supposed to do a film with Boyapati Srinu garu after 'Avunu'. I couldn't do it because of technical reasons. Even in 'Akhanda', the character was supposed to be played by someone else. It came my way eventually and I was pleasantly surprised when I received a call from the director.
Padmavathi is the name of my character. It is a strong character and it's not a negative role. It's a character between the hero (Balakrishna) and the villain (Srikanth). I hope the reviews talk about my performance. Boyapati garu's movies have at least one strong character besides the heroine. Padmavathi, played by me, is that character in 'Akhanda'.
I needed to sound dominating and I was a bit nervous to be that way in the presence of Balakrishna garu. To my surprise, he turned out to be very down-to-earth. He is super energetic. At times, he worked at a stretch for many days. He is always dedicated and surprises us with his energy at this age.
Three important scenes featuring me will stand out in 'Akhanda'. I hope my performance will be counted. The heroine (Pragya Jaiswal) is a District Collector who is mentored by my character. I had to sound mature and dignified.
Balakrishna sir has got two getups and I have got combination scenes with him in both. When I saw him in the Aghora look, it felt divine.
If I am playing a character role, it has to be effective. I was seen in a couple of scenes only in 'Drushyam 2', but everyone liked me in it. It has to be that way for me.
I have always admired the likes of Sobhana, Suhasini, and Revathi. They played mothers even when they were young. They were not particular about playing only typical roles. I want to be like them.
I never expected to last long in the film industry. I come from no film background. I come from a humble background in Kerala. I have to thank my mother for standing by me. If money alone matters, you grab every opportunity that comes your way. If lasting long as an actor is your criterion, then you have to be choosy. I am not comfortable wearing some kinds of costumes. It's an individual choice. I did a modern role in '3 Roses' (Aha web series). But I had to do it because the series needed it.
I don't shy away from working with newcomers. I am selective. I did 'Sundari' because the director is quite sensible. It was his second film. I did 'Power Play' because I loved the character.
We have been able to sustain as actors because of the people. Negative comments by social media users have changed the way I look at things. They have resulted in something better at times. I have been in the industry for 12 years. I am no longer thinking in terms of whether a film is going to transform my career.
