The name ‘Samantha’ almost sounds foreign. Like she was born and brought up abroad and came to south India to do movies. But she isn’t. She’s from, hold your breath, Pallavaram, and has studied in Holy Angels and Stella Maris. She is, as she insists, “just another ordinary Chennai girl who made it big.”
Indeed she has. Currently, Samantha has movies with the top stars in town – Thanga Magan with Dhanush (which releases this Friday) and 24 with Suriya. Her last couple of releases in Kollywood were biggies as well; Kaththi with Vijay and 10 Enradhukulla with Vikram. Meanwhile, her journey in Telugu cinema is going smooth as well; there’s a film with Mahesh Babu lined up. In a telephonic chat with Metroplus, the actress spills the beans on her upcoming Dhanush-starrer, the journey so far and more.
You’re known for associating with social causes and recently donated Rs 30 lakhs for people affected by the floods in Chennai…
Yes, it will be used for rehabilitating people affected by the floods in the city. A majority of it will be used in the Pallavaram area and whereabouts, where I hail from.
A lot of people still do not know that you’re a very Chennai girl and grew up here…
Well, I am from Pallavaram and was born in a very ordinary lower-middle-class family. I studied in Holy Angels and Stella Maris, and I’m just like any of the girls out here. It’s been a good rise, yes.
That is quite an understatement, isn’t it? You are one of the top heroines in Tamil today…
I’m extremely happy with the work I’m getting in Kollywood. Women have a significant contribution in the scripts these days, and I’m satisfied with the direction my career is taking.
But you’re much sought after in Telugu films as well. You have Brahmotsavam with Mahesh Babu and A Aa lined up…
I’m looking to balance both the industries. I hope it’s a good balance.
Tell us about how you go about picking projects…
I've been saying that I’m looking for different kind of roles for a long time. In the past, I’ve been fed up of the stereotypical cute roles offered to me. In that way, I’m thrilled that all my roles in my current films are very different with each other and require mature performances.
Thanga Magan, your release this week, must have been one such…
Yes, it is. It was a character that required a mature performance. It’s not often that you get to work with such talented co-stars.
What’s it about Dhanush that everyone keeps raving about?
He’s extremely talented; that’s something everyone knows. I found his take on things – on all aspects of filmmaking - very different. In a way, I had to unlearn some things that I’d learnt in the past.
Can you give us an example?
When we act, it’s usually loud. Like many others, I also tend to move my eyebrows and eyes a lot when in front of the camera. But in Thanga Magan, it’s all controlled and restrained. It taught me how to use my eyes to speak, in a sense.
You’re wearing sarees and look a bit older than in real life in the trailer of Thanga Magan…
It’s not new to me; I played the mother of a four-year-old in my Telugu film, Manam , didn’t I? As an actor, you want to be offered things not in your comfort zone.
Finally, what does Samantha do when she’s not shooting?
I lead a boring life. I’m always usually with a book – definitely not fiction – or catching a film.
