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Suhasini Maniratnam took 29 takes to deliver a tough dialogue in her first Kannada film, K Balachander said, ‘I will die of boredom’

Suhasini Maniratnam recently revealed that she needed around 29 takes to deliver a challenging dialogue during the shoot of K Balachander’s Kannada film Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu.

2 min readGoaNov 21, 2025 09:41 PM IST

Suhasini Maniratnam and Kamal Haasan in Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu.

After making her mark in the Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam industries, Suhasini Maniratnam made her Kannada debut in 1983 with K Balachander’s Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu. However, the transition wasn’t smooth, as she faced a significant language barrier. During the IFFI 2025 session titled The Luminary Icons: Creative Bonds and Fierce Performances on Friday, Suhasini revealed that it took her several takes to deliver one of the film’s more difficult dialogues.

Recalling the shoot of the movie, she shared, “In my first film, I didn’t know what acting was all about, but I got awarded the state award for best actress. I was taken aback. I was an 18-year-old. Then, my Malayalam and Telugu films were also successful. I went on to do a Kannada film with K Balachander. I was a confident actor by that time – Kamal Haasan’s niece, studied in a film institute and all that.”

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However, her first Kannada film came with its own challenges, as she had difficulty delivering a particularly tough dialogue. “But then, he gave me a dialogue, it was such a tongue twister. It was so difficult. I had to do 29 takes before the shot was ok. The 29th take was also not okay, but Balachander said that if I say this dialogue one more time, he will die of boredom or I’ll die gasping for breath, so let’s just keep this scene as okay and move ahead. Today I get it, but I didn’t get it 23 years ago.” Suhasini even showed the dialogue on the screen during session.

Suhasini Maniratnam further revealed that even her co-stars, including uncle Kamal Haasan, kept waiting for her to finish the scene. “This horrible dialogue wasn’t getting into my head. Not to mention, my co-actors put up with me. We started at 9 am in the morning and till 12 pm, we were on that scene. Even then, it was not an okay take. The director compromised because I wasn’t able to crack it,” she concluded.

Navya Kharbanda

Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events. Experience & Professional Background Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include: The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam. Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah. Expertise & Focus Areas Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include: Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth. Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era. On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan. South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera. Authoritativeness & Trust Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More

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