She’s done 69 films so far, her long career in the South peppered with award-winning roles. There’s been the positive Autograph , the lilting Paarthiban Kanavu , the nostalgic Pallikoodam and the poignant Pirivom Sandhipom . Through good times and bad, Sneha’s winning smile has remained. The actor is now awaiting the release of the Kishore-starrer Haridas, directed by G.N.R. Kumaravelan. It’s her first film after marriage to actor Prasanna, and no, “it’s not a comeback film”, she says. There’s also the Prakash Raj-directed Un Samayal Araiyil , the remake of the Malayalam super hit Salt and Pepper .
Highly satisfying
“I never say anything about my performance in a film, but while dubbing for Haridas , I liked what I saw. Very few films have given me this kind of satisfaction. I am very attached to the film,” says Sneha, who started working on the film just 10 days after her wedding.
As for Un Samayal Araiyil , where she plays the role essayed by Shweta Menon in the original, Sneha says the film saw her finally team up with Prakash Raj. “He’s been asking me since Mozhi . He approached me for Dhoni too. I did wonder about working after marriage. But, I did not want to pass up the chance.”
Sneha accepted the film after seeing the original. “I loved the role. It called for performance. Anyway, I have never wanted to be a star. I have always been the girl next door, sported a de-glam look through a film, worked with no make-up and worn the coarsest of saris. All to mould myself into a role,” says the actor.
Married actresses have never had it easy when it comes to bagging plum roles, but the tide seems to have turned in Sneha’s favour going by the films that have come her way post-marriage. “Many people told Prasanna that I must continue acting even after marriage. But, considering I did not get too many roles before marriage, I wondered if I would get any after it,” she laughs.
Sneha has also worked in films where all she had to do was run around trees with the hero. “I did make some blunders. I have hated some films even while shooting for them, wondering why I signed up for them. My strength is performance, and I seek versatile roles,” she says.
Sneha says she has never planned her career. “I always went with the flow, never thought of anything beyond the story.” She did not plan to fall in love either. It happened when she and Prasanna were shooting abroad for Achamundu Achamundu . “I am not the type who will sit in a corner with a book and a coffee mug. I love talking. We became friends really soon. We bonded over his lovely Tamizh and my bad pronunciation. We could laugh about anything. We were crazy friends.”
Eight months into marriage, how does it feel balancing home and work? “How time has flown! But, we still look at each other like boyfriend-girlfriend. Prasanna and I are just back from Paris. I cook and manage the accounts, but I also miss being with my parents. I learnt to make rotis after modelling for a brand of atta. I baked a cake for Prasanna’s birthday. I love these everyday joys.”
