Basking in revelry

She comes as a cute, affable and gregarious girl. Having starred in 30-odd films, she has seen the highs and lows in film industry. And she hit it off well with top heroes in Telugu as well as Tamil movies. The actress, Ravali, who had a lean patch in Telugu films for a while is back in the reckoning. This time, she's paired with Sai Kumar. SURESH KRISHNAMOORTHY catches up with Ravali just before she is `kidnapped' by baddies on the sets of Amma Arts production, `Manchi Mogudu', at Annapurna Studios here.

The first thing that strikes you on seeing this damsel from Chennai is her bright, round and expressive eyes. And the invigorating smile. Yes, Ravali can be intimidating as she's a bundle of both. Quite unlike the starlets now trooping into Tollywood from upcountry, Ravali is fluent in three languages. Answering calls on her mobile in the middle of a chat she effortlessly keeps changing from Tamil to Telugu to English.

Although she has been living with her parents, Dharma Rao and Vijayadurga, in Chennai for many years now, she was born in Gudivada. Introduced by E.V.V. Satyanarayana in `Ali Baba Ara Dozen Dongalu', Ravali made a sound beginning what with the film catapulting her and the comedian hero, Ali, to the big league.

For one who has worked in several films and acted opposite heroes like Srikkanth, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna, Balakrishna, Suresh and Vineet in Telugu films and with Vijaykanth, Satyaraj and Parthiban in Tamil, Ravali does not have any airs about her. She's one of those happy-go-lucky glamdolls and is easy to speak with.

How did she happen to enter the competitive world of films? "When EVV sir first made an offer, I didn't think much about it. But two months later when he came to Chennai and asked for my photographs, I was surprised", she says. After `Ali Baba...', hits like `Vinodam' and `Pelli Sandadi' -- which she considers her best movie in Telugu -- followed.

"Life has been kind to me. I love my work and I am happy to be back in Tollywood after a break", she chuckles.

What about love and marriage? Digging into one of her dazzling smiles, she opens up: "Let me start loving first, then think of marriage. Anyway, time will tell". Utter the word `food', she squirms: "Oh, no. Please don't remind me. I am dieting now and downing endless glasses of tender coconut water and fresh juice, apart from a light meal once or twice a day".

What's her a motto about people and life? "Be kind and keep smiling to drive out silly moments and tension. Life is short, so enjoy", she launches into another giggle.

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Section  : Southern States
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