Remake for Return

For an actor who has done close to 27 films down South,one would expect her to do a Hindi film with a lot more meat in it. However,Tamannaah believes otherwise. “Commercial films are a big challenge for an actor. There are limited number of scenes in which you have to perform and do your best so that you are remembered. An actor is always remembered for a challenging role in a woman-centric film,but very few get noticed in a hero-centric film,” she says. Standing by her conviction,she has also signed another commercial venture,the remake of Telugu hit Ramanna,which will have Akshay Kumar in the lead role.

Himmatwala,although touted as the 24-year-old’s big ticket to stardom,isn’t her Bollywood debut. Tamannah’s tryst with Bollywood began in 2005 with an independent film called Yeh Chaand Sa Roshan Chehra. The film tanked at the box-office,and so did Tamannaah’s hope of making it big in tinseltown. Not one to lose hope,she left her hometown Mumbai and headed down South. Despite the language barrier,she signed films in Telugu and Tamil. “They helped me find my feet in the profession and also made me realise that acting wasn’t after all a fluke,” she says.

Although she got many offers,the start was slow and stardom was still farfetched. Then,2009 changed the course of Tamannaah’s career. Kanden Kadhalai,the remake of Jab We Met in Tamil,released,which had both the critics and the audience rooting for the actress and her talent. This was followed by more successful films,such as 100% Love,Oosaravelli,Rachcha and Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu. “I am grateful to my audience in the South who instilled that confidence in me. So when Himmatwala came to me,I was sure I would do a good job of it,” she says.

The actor is based out of two cities. While her parents’ home is in Mumbai,she has bought a pad in Hyderabad as well. Currently,Tamannaah is shooting a film each in Tamil,Telugu and Hindi. “Since Hindi film industry is the biggest,I would love to do more work here. It will show my growth as an actor.” But,she is still in two minds about leaving the other two industries which gave her success.