‘People have now recognised me because of Godari Gattu from Sankranthiki Vasthunnam’

Director Anil Ravipudi and veteran actor Venkatesh have teamed up for the third time in the much-awaited family entertainer Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, set to release on January 14. The film stars Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary as the female leads, with Aishwarya taking on a comedic role for the first time in her career. She plays Bhagyam, the wife of Venkatesh’s character.
Sharing her journey, Aishwarya revealed how she landed the role: “I was working on a web series when I got a call from director Anil Ravipudi for a look test. I was surprised because I had watched all his films and admired his work. My character has a unique accent, so I came to Hyderabad for the test. After I delivered just two lines of dialogue, he said it was enough and narrated the entire script to me. I’ve never laughed so much in my life; it was the most enjoyable narration I’ve ever experienced. After auditioning many others, they chose me for Bhagyam and I feel incredibly lucky to have played this role.”
Aishwarya described Sankranthiki Vasthunnam as a special milestone in her career. “The song Godari Gattu has become a sensation. At airports, people recognize me and take photos with me and I believe it’s all because of that song. I haven’t had many duet songs in Telugu and this one fills that gap beautifully. I’m even happier because I got to perform it alongside Venkatesh sir and it’s become a huge hit,” she said.
Reflecting on her role, Aishwarya admitted to initial nerves about working with Venkatesh. “Bhagyam is not an easy character to portray. It’s a role that requires the right balance to avoid overdoing it and I’ve never done anything like this in my career. It’s a role that evokes sympathy, and you have to deliver a nuanced performance. Thankfully, Venkatesh sir encouraged me at every step. His support made all the difference, and that’s why I was able to give my best performance.”
Aishwarya recalled the challenges of filming, including a moment when she was overwhelmed: “On some days, I was so nervous that my hands would shake while delivering dialogues. Once, I even developed a fever from the pressure. But both Anil sir and Venkatesh sir were incredibly supportive, which helped me pull through.” The actress added that Sankranthiki Vasthunnam is a rare gem in the Telugu film industry. “It’s been five years since a family entertainer like this came out. I’m proud to be part of a project that will resonate with families across generations.”
Speaking about her co-star Meenakshi Chaudhary, Aishwarya said, “Meenakshi and I became great friends during the shoot. She’s such a sweet and hardworking girl. She’s also a doctor and her journey to this stage is truly inspiring. In the film, Meenakshi and Venkatesh sir’s characters share a lot of screen time. Watching how Venkatesh’s character navigates between us adds an interesting dynamic to the story.”
Aishwarya concluded by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to be part of such a unique film. “Not everyone gets to act in a film like this and I consider myself very lucky. I always aim to take on diverse roles, and I see my work as a way to contribute something meaningful to society,” she said.