"Sivaji - The Boss is the biggest budgeted film ever made in Indian cinema" - Shreya Saran 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, May 30, 2007 - 09:57 IST
Shreya Saran, the South Indian actress who began her career with Telugu films slowly walked her way into the Hindi film industry. But after both her films Thoda Tum Badlo Thoda
Hum and Shukriya were major flops, she made a U Turn to Tollywood. And now after completing a Tamil film Sivaji –The Boss with South superstar Rajnikanth, she is back for
another take in Hindi films with Awarapan. The actress speaks to IndiaFM about her second innings in Bollywood.
Were you disappointed that your first few Hindi films didn’t do well?
Yes I was disappointed but it’s a part of life. Ups and downs come and go. Sometime you give flop films. In South I gave hit films. I don’t think you can blame someone if films don’t work.
There are so many people involved in one movie not just one person.
I expect a lot from my movies. I expect them to do well.
What films are you doing down South?
I started my career with Telugu films and now I am doing Tamil films too. I am doing a Tamil film called Sivaji -The Boss. This film is about lot of social issues. This film was a wonderful
experience. Shankar who has directed films like Nayak, Hindustani and Aparichit is the director of the movie. Rajnikant is the biggest super star from South. It was a pleasure to
work with him. I’ve learned a lot from him. A. R Rehman has done its music. It’s a biggest budgeted film ever made in Indian cinema.
Sivaji -The Boss is the biggest budgeted film ever made in Indian cinema.
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How different is it working in the Bollywood industry as compared to working in South?
It’s the same thing as you have the same camera, you get scripts before hand. I can’t really compare because I haven’t done much Hindi films but I have done many South Indian movies. So
it will be unfair to compare. Secondly I feel its Indian cinema at the end of the day and we all are contributing to Indian cinema. Technically South films are very strong and Hindi films are
also evolving. It’s a blessing to be a part of Indian cinema because where do you get so many varieties. So I think I am blessed that I am part of Indian cinema.
How did you get a break with the Bhatt camp?
I think its destiny as my manager just called and said Bhatts are in search of a new girl for Awarapan. I met them and I liked the subject. Things fell into place and I decided to work on
this project.
How excited are you about your second innings in Bollywood with Awarapan?
Pretty excited! Awarapan is very close to my heart, it’s a lovely story. I fell in love with the story when I first heard it. It’s something that we all can connect with and that’s what I like
about this movie. I play a Muslim girl, very intriguing. My character has a nice graph to it.
How was it camping with the Bhatts?
They are wonderful to work with. I interacted more with Mukesh Bhatt. He is a very nice man. He understands a lot about production. He understands the taste of masses. I was treated like a
little kid while shooting the film. All of them are very understanding. Everything was well arranged. My character is very well organized. It’s very hard to organize everything as a lot of
planning is required. But these people are very professional. It’s like a family. I interacted with Mahesh Bhatt too.
Is Mohit Suri a taskmaster or easygoing?
Oh, Mohit gives you a lot of freedom, at the same time he knows what exactly he wants from an actor and the character. He knows the right balance, which is quiet rare. I have worked with
many directors and I could say that he is one of the best directors I have worked with. Mohit is so organized. He knows what his script demands, everything is sorted out and everything is
worked on. It’s a very intense love story and Mohit has presented the scenes which are required. He hasn’t forced any in the movie.
Emraan has a serial-kisser image. Were you on the receiving end?
No, I am spared (laughs). In fact you’ll come to know I have been paired opposite Emraan only when you watch this film.
You are also doing Sangeet Sivan’s ‘Ek – The Power of One’ with Nana Patekar and Bobby Deol.
Yes but I can’t talk about the film much. All I can say is that I play a Punjabi girl in the film. Sangeetji is a very good director and full of life. He has a good sense of humor. He never looses
his temper. He discusses the character. It’s an interesting film that I am working on. And I could connect to Bobby fabulously.
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