Actress Shraddha Srinath Opens Up About Daaku Maharaaj, Working with Balakrishna, Her Role and More
suresh kavirayani
Irrespective of a film’s result, Shraddha Srinath continues to take on a variety of characters. In her last two films, Saindhav and Mechanic Rocky, she portrayed vastly different roles. Now, she is set to play another powerful character in her upcoming film Daaku Maharaaj.
In this movie, Shraddha stars opposite Balakrishna for the first time and revealed that her role in this film is unlike anything she has done before. She plays the character of Nandini, a pivotal role in the story. Directed by Bobby Kolli, the film is slated for release on January 12.
“The kind of films I’ve done often have a subtle or serious theme, or they are thrillers. But this film is an all-out package with a lot of emotion, comedy and action. Being part of a Balakrishna film means I’m watched by the whole world, and it’s a do-or-die kind of opportunity for me. I have to make the best of my performance,” said Shraddha Srinath.
The actress also opened up about working with Balakrishna and shared her admiration for him. “He is a big star, but he remains a down-to-earth person who never shows his stardom on set. That’s one big quality of his. Another is his curiosity—despite being a superstar, he fully submits to the director and is always eager to try something new,” said the actress about her co-star.
Discussing her character Nandini, Shraddha described her as a quiet, mature woman with emotional depth. “Nandini is soft yet strong. She knows when to say no, when to stop, and she can endure a lot. I have to thank director Bobby for giving me such a performance-oriented role. Generally, in big films, female characters don’t get much to perform, but in this movie, we’ve been given substantial parts. Each character in the film is memorable, and everyone has given their best,” she explained.
Shraddha revealed the effort that went into creating her character’s look. “We did extensive research on certain eras, fabrics, prints on sarees, nail polish, and hair makeup. The director wanted a special look, and it was a thorough process,” she shared.
The film also features Pragya Jaiswal and Urvashi Rautela. When asked about comparisons between her role and the other female leads, Shraddha emphasised that she does not focus on comparisons. “I don’t compare; it’s futile and only leads to disappointment or insecurity. When the director narrated the story, I only focused on my character. Regardless of screen time, if you shine and give your best, people will remember you. I’m confident all of us will be appreciated for our performances. It’s unwise to dwell on comparisons,” said the actress.
She added that her role has significant emotional weight. “I dubbed my own voice for this role, which was one of the hardest parts. A co-director, who follows old-school methods, would sit with me and correct my Telugu lines. While I was delivering my lines, he literally had tears in his eyes because he got so emotional. The kind of performance this role required was very different. It reminded me of my theater days, as I had to delve deeply into my emotions. While I’ve played natural, next-door-girl characters before, this role was a unique challenge,” she said.
Shraddha, who started her career in Kannada films, has also worked in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi cinema. When asked about juggling multiple industries and coping with language differences, she said, “It’s natural for actresses to move from one industry to another. Whether big or small, actresses receive offers from various industries. I’m quite happy to work across all of them. Kannada and Telugu share some similarities, so learning Telugu was easy for me. Tamil, however, was a big struggle and remains challenging—I think a lot before speaking Tamil. Hindi isn’t an issue since I was born in the North. Malayalam is very difficult, and I haven’t tried it much.”
Addressing a recent statement by Mega Star Chiranjeevi about the importance of good behavior in addition to talent, Shraddha agreed. “Talent is important, but being a decent human being and respectful is equally vital. I feel both are necessary,” she said.
Finally, Shraddha shared a glimpse of her upcoming Tamil film Aryan, where she plays a journalist.
