Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

I still have a lot to learn about acting, says Sangavi

S.R. Ashok Kumar

"I think a stint in the film institute is necessary for upcoming artists to bloom"

Sangavi

Sangavi is an artist who has balanced glamour and character roles in her career. Except for Malayalam, the actor has acted in all other south Indian languages. A graceful dancer, Sangavi talks about her films, and her likes and dislikes.

I am a nice person as long as you are nice to me. I do not mingle with everyone freely, but once I strike a friendship it will be for life.

I have acted in films since I was a child. My grandmother's younger sister is popular Kannada artist Arathi. Whenever she went for shoots, I used to accompany her. Maybe, those visits sparked an interest in acting later in my life.

It was director Selva who made me a lead actor in his directorial venture `Amaravathi'. My co-star in that movie was Ajith Kumar. The same director cast me opposite Arjun in `Aanai', in which I did the mature role of a mother who loses her daughter. My work in the film won me appreciation.

I still think I have a lot to learn about acting. After my first film I got a few breaks in Telugu and Kannada. I did nearly 45 films in Telugu and some half-a-dozen films in Kannada. The remaining movies are in Tamil.

In spite of not performing too well, I like my first film `Amaravathi'. My list of favourite films includes `Rasikan' and `Porkalam'. I also rate the Telugu film `Seetharamraj' with Nagarjuna highly. I did the lead role in the national award winning film `Sindooram', which was directed by Krishna Vamsi, husband of Ramya Krishnan, with two new heroes — Ravi Teja and Brammaji. For that film I got the State award. Now, I am working in the Telugu remake of `Pithamagan'.

My role model is Sridevi. But I like all the artists who are working today. How can one forget performances of Trishna in the Telugu film `Nuvvu Vasthanante Nenoddantana' or Simran in `Valee', Asin in `Gajani' and Jyotika and Nayantara in `Chandramukhi'? I also liked Suriya in `Kakka Kakka' and `Peralazhagan', and Vijay and Vikram in some of their films.

I think a stint in the film institute is necessary for upcoming artists to bloom. When I came I was raw in all the departments of filmmaking. There is no limit to what the youth of today can achieve.

When my first film was released a reviewer wrote that I "had a deadpan face". But, a subsequent review in the same newspaper lauded my performance. I feel that this is one of the best critical reviews I got in my lifetime.

When I did the film `Porkalam', directed by Cheran, superstar Rajinikanth, director Bharathiraaja and Suhasini commended my acting. I was really thrilled. Another high point was when I received an award from the Andhra Pradesh Government for the film `Sindooram'.

I do not plan my future, as things do not happen as one wishes it would. I have learnt to accept things as they come.

My mission in life is to serve the underprivileged.

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