It's very rare that we get to hear a Telugu girl making her debut in movies. Manjusha from Kukutpally is the heroine in Sarai Veeraju that's releasing on December 4. Manjusha has changed her name to Madhulika.
An engineer turned actress
An engineering graduate from the Holy Mary Institute of Technology, Keesara, she had walked the ramp many times and worked in commercials too.
The actress was born in Ongole but settled here after her father began working in BSNL.
Her mother is a housewife and writes poems and stories for Andhra Bhoomi. She is not exactly a movie buff as she watches films only if someone tells her it's worth seeing. Her parents were pleasantly surprised when she told them she wanted to be an actress. She feels with so much media attention , the movie industry is turning to be another corporate sector, very safe, professional and there is nothing wrong in youngsters trying their luck here.
Director Kannan, who's been an assistant director for Rajamouli saw her pictures and commercials and selected her for one of the heroine's role in Ajay starrer Sarai Veeraju . Ramya Nambeesan, a Malayali is her co-star. Madhulika plays the role of Preeti, an air hostess. Ramya is the hero's past and Madhulika is his present in the story which has been picked from a novel written by Raavi Shastri.
The actress avers that most of the shooting took place in a village, parts of Dubai and Hyderabad and since the film has been realistically portrayed she had to use minimum make-up.
Madhulika is very thin, tell her that and she is ready with an answer.
“It's not about how slim you are, it also matters if you are healthy and fit. I've just begun focusing on my health, looks and started off with yoga.”