A fetching role, at long last!

A fetching role, at long last!
Lopamudra Bhattacharya

The last time around, she was seen playing a sister to Sunil Shetty in the film Krodh. And it wasn't a very good experience admits the beautiful young actress, Saakshi Sivanand. She is quite a rage down South. Having done as many as 20 films in various South Indian languages, Saakshi feels it's much better to do regional films where she gets good roles, than doing small time roles in Hindi films. But she's willing to jet down to Mumbai every time a worthwhile offer comes her way.

Brought up in a very conservative South Indian family, as a child, Saakshi could never have dreamt of doing films. "I wanted to be a chartered accountant, my father is a CA himself, you see. I wanted to follow in his steps. In fact, even after I entered films, I continued preparing for the foundation course for CA."

So how did the journey in showbiz start? "It happened some years back. I was in my first year of college. I was walking down the road with my friends, when a speeding car stopped by. There were some big guys inside who identified themselves as South Indian filmmakers. They asked me if I would like to act in one of their movies. I was surprised and didn't know how to react." Well Saakshi never contacted them, but that day, she sure got bitten by the movie bug. And she decided she'd give it a try.

Later, somebody she knew, offered her a role in a film. Her first film was Anna Vadina, in which she played the typical song and dance role. "It wasn't a dream-break for me. It was after this film that I realised how to handle myself as an actress. During the film I didn't have any personal dress-designer, no personal make-up man, nothing. I was a rank new-comer."

With the release of Anna Vadina, Saakshi was soon made aware of just where she'd gone wrong. Her screen presence wan't much appreciated, nor was her role. Determined to prove herself, Saakshi decided to take things seriously.

She become a professional to the core."From then on, with every film I did, I took care to see that the character I played was a strong one and not overlooked like it happened the first time. I started behaving professionally and that is how I have managed it well so far", says a wiser Saakshi.

Her first major hit was Master with Chiranjeevi. And then onwards there has been no looking back. She did Samudram, Pelli Sambandham, Iddaru Mitralu and many more. She worked with K. Raghavendra Rao, Bharatan, Singeetam Srinivas Rao and a lot of other directors. "I am really thankful to all my directors.

They have been really helpful to me," she says.

She has been signed by producer Buland Akhtar for playing the title role in the Hindi musical periodical Amrapali. The film, being produced by Buland Akhtar, is directed by Roy R Aguiar, an erstwhile associate of Shekhar Kapur's and the costumes are by Oscar-winner Bhanu Athaiya. "I am excited about the film, for I play the title role in it. It's a big one and I hope things work out well," she says enthusiastically.

So where do Hindi films figure in her scheme of things? "I am eager to do Hindi films, believe me. If I haven't been seen in too many Hindi films of late, blame it on the filmmakers. It's just that I haven't been getting very good offers."

For one who's in a great deal of demand down South, Saakshi's been swamped with secondary roles in Hindi cinema. "Playing a character artiste is not what I want. Movies with strong female roles fascinate me and I would love to do such roles," she says.

Saakshi's still entrenched in Mumbai, which has been her home for the last nine years. Though she has no dearth for offers in Southie films, she intends to keep Mumbai as her home-base. Strong indication, no doubt that Saakshi still has her sights set on the Mumbai big time.