My mother tongue is Telugu. I was born and brought up in Tamil Nadu.
Aishwarya Rajesh
I did my schooling at Holy Angels, where they had stringent rules. I coloured my hair blond and red and was pulled up by the principal.
I like to eat in five-star hotels and also love street food.
While signing 'Sakhavu,' I wasn't aware of the depth of communism in Kerala. I was born and brought up in Chennai, and our political ideologies are very different.
I play the leading lady in Arjun Rampal's latest production, 'Daddy'. It's a very bold, performance-oriented role, and the team had originally cast someone else. However, when Arjun saw my performance in 'Kaaka Muttai,' he roped me in.
I come from a lower-middle-class family and used to stay in a housing board colony.
I'm playing my first urban character in 'Thirudan Police.' It's an important film because I'll be breaking the stereotype that I'm only fit for rural characters with this role.
Vetrimaaran expects his actors to be spontaneous. Since he mostly prefers shooting in live locations, you have to be prepared for everything when you work with him.
One must never compromise on finances and confuse personal friendships with professional charges.
No matter how many movies I do, 'Kakka Muttai' will be one of my best movies.
I believe that comfort level is crucial for a performer.
In 'Aarathu Sinam', I play a wife and mother. It's a very homely character, quite contrary to what I've done so far.
I love the body language of the women cricketers and the attitude with which they carry themselves.
I always give weightage to performance more than the length of my character. That has always been my criteria for signing a film.
I am a workaholic and constantly want to do something.
I feel there are a very few actresses who can perform really well. I want to be one among them.
Deepavali is my 'favouritest' festival. More than Pongal or New Year's, this is the time we all come together as family and celebrate.
Eating street food in Bangkok is an experience.
When I did 'Kaaka Muttai,' I was a very raw actor. Director Manikandan brought out the best in me.
I don't go by the screen time. Even if I have one or two scenes, it is essential that people remember me.
The method in which 'Vadachennai' is narrated gives a feeling as if you are travelling with the characters to the different eras where the various situations happen.
I was supposed to do Mammootty's 'White,' but it didn't work out.
Initially, I didn't have much knowledge about cinema. But once I started doing good films, precisely after 'Kaaka Muttai,' people started respecting me as a performer.
'Daddy' is an amazing Bollywood debut for me. I don't play a typical Bollywood heroine. It's a performance-oriented role.
I want to be remembered for my roles and films rather than my looks.
Social media and smart phones have become an inevitable part of our lives. We shouldn't be under their control, which is wrong. It is mere stupidity, and we must be aware of everything around us.
I'm an athlete, and I have been interested in sports films.
I had to do a lot of preparation for 'Kaaka Muttai.' I had to literally spend every night and morning in the slums, observing the life of people there, and work on my diction.
After acting in a critically acclaimed film like 'Kaaka Muttai,' I didn't get any offers for more than a year.
My aim is to do all genres, both entertainment and art.
When I travel in Tamil Nadu for shooting, I make it a point to eat at roadside eateries and drink tea/coffee at a tea stall.
Irrespective of the language and industry, what I seek from a project is good story and role.
If the script is boring when I read it, I am sure it would be boring onscreen, too.
I am not anybody's fan - unless you're talking about Rajinikanth.
I am somebody who is not too fond of fancy or commercial stuff, like dancing around trees. Even in the 20 films I have done in South, none had any of such stuff.
I have definitely not turned glamorous.
I want to be choosier. I can't let quality take a back seat... not after 'Kaaka Muttai.'
I had a lot of Marwari friends, both in Holy Angels School and Ethiraj College.
I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan; I have not missed any of his films since I got hooked to 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.'
I like multi-tasking.
I felt that I should become a film actress first, and then come back to serials and earn good remuneration from it.
I used to visit one production house every day, and I used to take up auditions even for small roles. Before my debut, I must have auditioned at almost every single production house.
My gut told me 'Kanaa' was worth taking up, and it's a dream role for any actor.
I am not interested in doing a film on the basis of a good story. I want a proper screenplay.
I lost my father when I was barely 10.
In the kind of films offered to me, I don't even get the role of a city-based college girl. How do I let people know I can do sophisticated, contemporary roles, too?
'Kanaa' is a rare opportunity; it's about women's cricket, and they've trusted me with this film. I trained for nearly four hours every day with three coaches.
It's very different working with Vetrimaaran. If he's happy with your shot, all he will tell you is, 'Good job. Go do what you have to next.'
I don't see anything wrong with my films in 2016, except maybe 'Kadalai' and 'Parandhu Sella Vaa.' I did do a lot of different roles.
I always do what the character demands, and I love to experiment with my looks.
