Ten films old, including six in Tamil, Vedhika has a big project coming up — director Bala’s Paradesi . But, the actor continues to stay in her hometown Mumbai, rather than shift to where her films are being shot. “My folks are in Mumbai and I don’t want them to relocate for my convenience. Travel is so easy these days, anyway. This year has been special for me. I received the Nandi Award for my performance in the Telugu film Baanam and I am currently working in Paradesi opposite Atharva,” says Vedhika. Right from her first film Madrasi and her favourite Kaalai , Vedhika has found the Tamil film industry her comfort zone. “Tamil films offer a lot of scope for performance. They challenge an actor to perform to the best of her abilities and I deliver best under such demanding conditions. As far as Bollywood goes, though I am based in Mumbai, I am yet to come across a good script that will excite me,” says Vedhika.
Striking out on his own
Having co-directed a couple of films with Prabhudeva has given Premsai the confidence to launch his own directorial venture, produced by Gautam Menon’s Photon Kathaas. Tamilselvanum Thaniyaranjalum , for which he has also written the story and dialogue, has Jai in the lead and Santhanam in a crucial role. It’s also being shot in Telugu titled Courier Boy Kalyan with Nitin in the lead. “Santhanam’s part is pivotal to the story and it is not just a comedy. Overall, the film is a commercial entertainer. While the heroines in both languages have not yet been finalised, I have completed one schedule. The music by singer Karthik has also been recorded,” says Premsai. Can one expect Prabhudeva’s influence on the film? “Let the audience judge that. As for me, I think I have managed to be original.”
Straddling two worlds
Modelling was a passion for Sharran Kumar even while he was working part-time in Citibank. A plum assignment with Asin for a Tata Sky commercial made the producers of Inidhu Inidhu take notice of him and Sharran was roped in as one of the four boys in this Prakash Raj production directed by K. V. Guhan. “That was a dream launch for me, following which I completed Badrama Pathukkonga with Swathi (Rattinam) as the heroine. Now, I have just finished a dual role in director Ganesh’s Isakki opposite Ashita. In this, I play a city slicker and a village simpleton. Currently, I have just signed a yet-to-be-titled film, directed by Guhan’s assistant Sathya. The shoot will start in September,” says Sharran who is busy with several assignments in the advertising world.
