You now play character roles on the small screen. Why weren't you able to do this on the big screen?
I played the heroine in 35 films, the majority of which did not do well at the box office. So I began to dance, and it clicked. I have done nearly 700 films in all the South Indian languages and Hindi. I have acted in a Telugu serial; now I am appearing in “Thangam”, a serial on Sun TV.
Don't you think every film in those days had a song sequence pictured on an ‘item girl'?
It was a must in every film in those days. But today, the heroines don't mind wearing glamorous outfits and doing item numbers. On the whole, the number of solo dances has come down these days.
Why did you make your daughter dance in films and not allow her to play good roles?
She is doing a variety of roles, besides dance. In the recent film, Quarter Katting , she plays the role of a police officer. She has also won the ‘Nandi' Award for her comedy role in a Telugu film. She has acted as a heroine, vamp and comedian and danced in some.
Can you name five best films of your career?
Mohana Punnagai, Nermai, Puthuyugam and Simmasoppanam in Tamil and Repati Pourulu in Telugu.
Even today, Jothilakshmi dances in films, why not you?
She maintains her figure and is able to dance. But I am happy playing character roles on the small and big screens. I am waiting for a good big screen break.
