The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Bhagyaraj's daughter makes her debut

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 11, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Bhagyaraj's daughter makes her debut

Staff Reporter

DIRECTOR'S DAUGHTER: K. Bhagyaraj (right) introduces his daughter Saranya as heroine of his next movie. The film's lead man Prithviraj is to her right. — Photo. R. Ragu

CHENNAI: It sounds like a family affair. But it is more than that!

K. Bhagyaraj directs the movie (as also doing its story and screenplay). His fresh-faced daughter Saranya plays heroine. Bhagyaraj's niece and her husband are the producers.

He introduced all the artists of his next venture `Parijatham' to the press on Wednesday. "I did not think my daughter wanted to take up acting as her career. She is soft and reserved. After seeing her talent, I am sure she has done well. I have shot a few scenes and a song ... they have come out well. When I saw Prithviraj's acting in a comedy scene I laughed out aloud. I think the film will be a success."

Prithviraj, whose entire family is full of Bhagyaraj fans, said: "When I got a call from Ms. Poornima Bhagyaraj, asking me to act in a film directed by Bhagyaraj, I was thrilled. I have done 23 films in Malayalam and one in Tamil. But then I got more accolades here. I wanted to thank the Tamil audience for giving me a rousing reception."

The young heroine looked genuinely happy to do a film directed by her father. "When I wanted to act in films I asked my father's permission. Without a minute's hesitation, he said OK. But I must confess ... he selected me only after giving me a proper screen and photo test," she said.

Saranya recently finished her Visual Communication degree from MOP Vaishnava College.

An inside secret: Both heroine and hero are doing two characters in the film in which Bhagyaraj is also playing a role with Prakash Raj, Roja (Prithviraj's mother), Seetha and `Thalai Vasal' Vijai.

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