Tell us about your background?
I was born in Madanapalli. My father is an assistant commissioner in commercial tax department. Since he is a government employee, we had to shift to various places like Tirupati, Nellore, Guntur, Vijayawada and Hyderabad. My father is working in Hyderabad now. I did my studies from +1 onwards in Chennai. I completed my degree in bio technology now.

I have always been an average student at studies and I had an inclination towards cultural activities. I used to participate in cultural activities and win prizes in most of them. I started my modeling career with a print ad for Saravana stores sarees. Sekhar Kammula and Anish Kuruvilla saw my work in Tata Gold (Tanishq from Titan) advertisement and called me for an audition.

How did the audition go?
They gave me a 4 page intro scene of the heroine character and gave me an hour time to prepare. That scene demands various kinds of emotions. I performed in the audition and had a gut feeling that I could get selected. I got a call from them after 3 days.

You played the character of a pickle selling girl. But you look pretty sophisticated and urbane outside. How did you manage that character?
I played the character of Lakshmi – a pickle selling girl in Avakai Biryani. I might look little urbane now, but in the film you would see a village girl. As a person, I identify myself more with my character Lakshmi. I am also responsible, down to earth and independent like Lakshmi.

More over, they conducted a workshop for us for a month where we used to read out and rehearsal each and every scene. I used to perform one scene each to Sekhar Kammula and Anish Kuruvilla everyday. By the time the shooting started, I had all the dialogues by heart.

There is lot of resistance from parents for those Telugu girls who want to get into showbiz. Did you face any restrictions from parents?
I had a stiff resistance from my father when I told him that I would get into modeling and do the ramp shows. My father did not speak to me for six months. After that he understood and said that I have to return to studies if I were not successful in it. I could get nice modeling assignments in Chennai and walked in 20 ramp shows. My father encouraged me when I got an offer for Avakai Biryani because he trusts the clean image of Sekhar Kammula.

Tell us about your co-actor Kamal Kamaraju?
He is very professional. He is a perfectionist. He concentrates on all aspect when he is at sets. He is a very serious actor unlike me.

What about the director Anish Kuruvilla?
I heard that directors do shout at actors. But, Anish is a cool person. He pampers his actors a lot so that he could extract the best from us.

Any memorable incident while shooting for Avakai Biryani?

1. I am a fan of Aishwarya Rai and I heard that she really ate green chilies in order to get the real effect while doing Hum Dil Dechuke Hain Sanam. I always wanted to do such kind of feat if the scene demands. And when there is a scene in Avakai Biryani where I eat 7-8 green chilies, the director asked me to use glycerin. But it was an opportunity I was anxiously looking forward to, I ate 7-8 chilies for real and got the desired effect. But I had to suffer for the next one hour, as we could not get sugar.

2. We shot Avakai Biryani in a remote village near by Vikarabad. We operate from Vikarabad. We were traveling back to Vikarabad at 3 am after a late night shoot. Actors were sitting in a vehicle which was traveling ahead. Anish and the technical team were sitting in another car. I got a weird idea and stopped the vehicle. I got down, smeared kajal (eye make-up) all around eyes and let my hair open. When Anish’s vehicle approached, I suddenly ran into the road. The driver stopped it just an inch away. Anish got shocked and scared so much that he refused to talk to me for the next two days. He said that he would cast me as main lead if he attempts any horror film in the future.

What did you aspire to become when you were a kid?
I wanted to become airhostess when I was a kid. Then I wanted to become a pilot. After watching Coyote Ugly (2000) film, I wanted to become a bar tender. Becoming heroine is my dream and I aspired to become a model.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?
People say that my eyes are big and expressive. My big eyes help me to convey emotions in films. And I am a proud owner of lovely dimples. My weakness is that I trust people very easily.

Telugu heroines are very rare in film industry now. How do you model yourself?
My mother is a big fan of Savithri and Jayasudha. I will model myself in such a way that she would become a big fan of Savithri, Jayasudha and Bindu Madhavi. I would like to carve my own identity in Telugu film industry.

What is your dream project?
I would love to do action films like Anjelina Jolie.

Who are your favorite actors?
Pawan Kalyan, Mahesh Babu and Bhumika Chawla. I became fans of Pawan Kalyan and Bhumika Chawla after watching Kushi. I became a fan of Mahesh Babu after watching Pokiri.

Sekhar Kammula knew that I am a fan of Pawan Kalyan. He promised me a autograph from Pawan Kalyan if I do a good job in Avakai Biryani.

What is your favorite film?
Geetanjali is my all-time favorite film.

What is the best compliment you got so far?
After watching the rushes of Avakai Biryani, Sekhar Kammula said that my performance is too mature for a first-timer.

What are your hobbies?
I love playing badminton. I used to play badminton with my father since I was in 3rd class. I also do lot of swimming.

How do you handle proposals from guys?
I have two extreme natures. I am very reserved and silent with strangers and I am wacky with closed ones. Hence not many guys got that much of proximity.

How do you control your diet?
I go to gym regularly and it keeps me fit all the time. I don’t follow any diet control.

What kind of food do you like?
Since I was away from home since my +2, I am enjoying the home food cooked by mom now. When I go out, I prefer continental.

Would you like to give out your orkut profile address for the visitors of idlebrain.com?
My Orkut profile is “Unanticipation Blow”. I have chosen that name because I love giving unanticipated surprises to my friends.

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