Lakshmi, who has played many roles, is a frequent visitor to Bengaluru. The lady has not only acted in every industry in the south but has also delivered many super hit films in Kannada with actors such like Dr Rajkumar ( Naa Ninna Mareyalare ), Ambareesh, Vishnuvardhan ( Avala hejje ), and with Anant Nag with whom she gave hits like Chandanada Gombe , Benkiya Bale and Ibbanni Karagitu to name a few. In fact Lakshmi and Anant Nag went on to become one of the most popular pairs in the Kannada film industry between the 70s and 80s. And, who can forget her Bollywood debut, Julie?
The multi-lingual actor, who recently added the Dr Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award to her long list of awards, is in Bengaluru for a reality television show aired on Udaya TV on weekends — Sada Nimmondige .
Lakshmi hosts the show and talks to people with financial and health problems. Each week she also speaks with a celebrity from the Kannada film industry who come forward to help the person in need financially by working a day in their line of profession to generate the money for their needs.
The actor talks to Metroplus during her break in her caravan.
Edited excerpts
You came into the film industry at a very young age. Tell us about your experience of those days.
I was young and naive. Those days, most heroines were aged 14 or 16 when they came into films. It was not considered young those days. Today, it is considered young and yes, will be called child labour. (laughs)
How have you seen cinema change?
I started as a learner and am still learning. By the time I learn and accept one change, another change comes in. When you are working with new directors and ideas, you hardly get time to sit and analyse your work.
The growth, the journey and learning has to be new every day, until, one day, we are confined to our homes, which will happen eventually. The major change I see today is people in the industry excel technically. They come here with education and degrees to make films.
Earlier, we did not have courses training you to be a filmmaker. One had to learn on the job. Today, there are many schools in India and abroad that teach you filmmaking. Even distribution of a film was tough then, but today, if you plan and market your film well using the platforms available, you can hit the jackpot.
You are known to be cracking jokes and pulling your colleagues’ legs, how easy was it for you to play a sober character on screen?
That is the job of an actor — to analyse the character and portray it on screen. And it also depended on the payment the producer gave me (laughs uproariously). Jokes apart, society and people around you teach you. If certain traits described in the character are there in you, then your character comes live gloriously. Life around you moulds you when you hear other’s struggles and joys. An actor has to be like water, be ready to adapt to anything.
Once I cross the threshold of my house, I should forget the Lakshmi — the daughter, wife, sister and mother and be a clean sheet of paper on which the director can write what he wants and paint me in a different way.
You are called the ‘darling of directors’ which is rare for an actor. Tell us what that special trait of yours is, which makes you a favourite among filmmakers?
It is a great honour. One has to be down to earth. We have to be willing to work with everyone, including new comers. I am now working with people who were not even born when I started working in the industry. If one cannot not adapt and change, he/she will be outdated. When you are willing to adapt to new technology and gadgets, why not new ideas and filmmakers? I am a student in every film. When a producer, director and the DOP work day and night visualising the character and put in all the finances they have to make a film, It is my duty to give my best. Listening to the old and new ... is always good, this outlook will also work wonders in families too.
Can acting be taught? Or is it an inborn talent?
It is neither, it is all about observation. Any intelligent person can be a good observer. You keep observing people. Degrees may teach you the technicalities. Training yourself in Hollywood and not understanding the local expressions may not work. Acting is like medicine. A doctor, trained in Russia or the UK has to write an exam here too to be accepted as a doctor. It is the same with acting. Our country and each region has its own style, which needs to be adapted by every actor.
How many languages do you speak?
I always say, give an advance and I will also speak the language of Timbuktu!
You are okay with playing mother roles?
I have acted as a grandmother too. If the character suits me, I will do it. It is a personal choice.
You have done reality shows in so many languages...
By god’s grace, I have been one of the first to start reality shows in 2002 and many others followed and it is still going.
Your opinion of Sada Nimmondige...
I believe god is teaching me a bigger lesson with this show. We crib about silly things — food in hotels, taxes we pay — all these seem irrelevant when you hear the problems of people on this show.
We don’t even remember what we ate two days ago, then why do we hold on to little irritations? Most people come here with medical problems and still smile and are content with what little they have. I salute the channel and the makers first. I also salute the actors, who come here without any egos to help people.
After doing so many roles, you are still remembered as Julie Lakshmi, what do you feel?
I am known as that only in the Kannada Industry. Sadly, I have stopped feeling anything as I have met so many who have named their dog ‘Julie’ and cow ‘Lakshmi’. (laughs uproariously)
