Actress Varalaxmi will be losing ten kilos to play the role of a ‘karakattam’ dancer in director Bala’s upcoming Tamil film. “Yes, I have already lost six kilos and am working out currently to lose four more,” reveals the actress, who debuted in Tamil cinema with Podaa Podi .
She is gearing up for this role by attending rehearsals every day. “That’s been happening for a month now,” she says, “We will be shooting from the end of this month.”
Understandably, she’s quite kicked about starring in a film directed by an acclaimed director like Bala. “It’s a dream come true,” she says, “I actually have no clue about my role. When someone like Bala sir calls you, you just go. I’m looking forward to shooting with him.”
For now, Varalaxmi is basking in the success of her debut Kannada film titled Maanikya that stars Sudeep in the lead role. This remake of the Telugu superhit movie Mirchi is currently making waves in Sandalwood. Ask her why she decided to do Maanikya and she says, “After Podaa Podi released, a lot of people approached me for bubbly roles in scripts with urban settings. But, I wanted to break that stereotype. In Maanikya , I play a village girl and it was extra challenging to do that.”
About her experience in the Kannada film industry, she says, “They were extremely professional to work with. Everybody had a walkie-talkie and knew what was happening on all floors of the set. It was a learning experience for me. Sudeep, my co-star in the film, has now become one of my closest friends,” she says.