Nandini Reddy’s Anni Manchi Sakunamule is going to be released on May 18. Actress Gautami, who last appeared in Shaakuntalam, will be seen playing Meenakshi, a sensible housewife. She is super elated to have collaborated with Rajendra Prasad (who plays her husband in the film). Coincidentally, she made her debut in the Telugu Film Industry with the former hero.
In the last one year, she has appeared in around six projects. The actress is quite selective about her work, and she likes to surround herself with like minded people. When producer Swapna called up Gautami and said, “No one apart from you can play this part”, it sparked her interest inbeing a part of the project.
“That’s what you want to hear, and when Swapna called me and said something like that, it sparked my interest,” remarks Gautami in a recent press meeting ahead of the film’s release.
After almost three decades in the industry, Gautami holds the same respect and love for the profession. She says, “There’s no limit to the possibilities that are available at an artist’s disposal. For me, it’s just not acting. There are so many crafts in the film industry. I love working and being on sets. That’s all I love. I still have the same dedication and love for my work. How is it possible to not have the same outlook when you love what you’re doing?.”
There are a lot of newcomers making films with different concepts. In any field, it’s pretty common to lose relevance after a certain point. Or some might call it a disconnect with the new generation. The actress has seen two generations come and go. She’s extremely impressed by the new generation filmmakers.
“They have so many new ideas, and they can tell such good stories,” says the actor. “Youngsters are making impactful films. I feel like the 70s independent movement has started again. That’s a good sign.”
Anni Manchi Sakunamule will also feature yesteryear actress Sowcar Janaki. Gautami never thought it would ever be possible for the makers to convince Sowkar Janaki to act in the film.
“It’s an unforgettable gift to the audience,” expresses Gautami. “She simply sparkles on the screen, and you can’t spot her age. It’s stunning to see her perform and still pick on those tiny nuances as an artist.”
The Chaitanya actress has worked in multiple industries, and she’s never found it difficult to adapt to any one particular language. “I don’t know if it’s my mindset or comfort level”, says the star. “If I start acting in one language, I just completely get into it. I never felt like I should adjust myself to one particular language. It’s always like coming back home.”
In the teaser of the film, the scene between Gautami and Vennela Kishore has gotten a lot of attention. The comedy works well between the duo. People seemed to have liked the scene because of the innocence it carries.
“Irrespective of the screen time of the characters, Nandini has written them so well. All the wonderful artists have worked on the project. When it comes to my character, you will really enjoy it. You will feel happy looking at the character. Vennela Kishore’s timing is fantastic. He appears silent, and the moment the camera turns on, he kills it with his timing. I love working with actors like him. Almost every artist is like that in the film. It’s always challenging to keep up your place in the film. That’s exciting.”
Gautami has got some really exciting projects lined up, like Thupparivaalan 2, a Hindi web series titled Chikoo, untitled Ram Pothineni project, and another untitled Amazon Prime Web series starring Nithya Menon. “There are many projects that are lined up, and I’m excited for them,” wraps up the Anni Manchi Sakunamule actress.
