Telugu audience like glam dolls as heroines. What is the main reason that you failed to achieve your heroine dream? I also did the film Ayuvu Rekha with Suresh Gopi.
In 2006, I did the film Palungu, with Mammooty sir. That way, I got the opportunity to set my foot in God’s Own Country. Those photos and video footage impressed star Malayalam director Blessy.
It so happened that I attended a screen test by a professional filmmaker in Chennai in 2005. But, most of the roles offered to me were the ones which actually contributed to my getting sidelined. What I mean by significant roles is that roles that can really help an artiste perform. But, I was so flexible as an artiste that I got ready to do significant roles. Basically, I stepped into Tollywood to become a heroine. So, you left Tollywood due to lack of heroine roles? At a time I was struggling to fight out the stalemate in my career bogged down disgrace due to offer of insignificant roles, the TV field came as a big rescue to me. ETV Suman garu liked my performance very much. Significantly, I come from Vijayawada, the abode of Goddess Kanaka Durga.
People still remember me as Durga as I did the title role in the TV serial Durga. What I couldn’t get on the big screen, I got it on the small screen. What about your stint on the small screen? But, storywriters and directors are not coming out with such roles. I believe that such characters are very much liked by the audience. The film is Oka Ammai Oka Abbai, launched a few days back. Now, I am here in Tollywood to play a negative role. At least, I am one among the recognized heroines. I am now happy with Kerala film industry. Of course, nothing deters me from realizing my dream. Other than that, I don’t have any moment of luck or happiness.
Even today, most of the people, wherever I go, call me as Chiru’s niece. In Chiranjeevi gari film Indra (2002), I did the role as his Mena Kodalu (niece). Though I did lead female roles in the films Manamiddaram and Vacchina Vaadu Sureedu, they didn’t click. Just I started my career in Tollywood with EVV Satyanarayana’s Ammo Okato Thareeku (2000), not as heroine, but in some good role. I don’t have much to tell you from the glamour point of view. The Telugu film industry was ruthless to me. I tried and tried and all my efforts were exhausted. In Hyderabad, it was my avowed dream to become a heroine. They took voluntary retirement and we settled in Hyderabad six years ago. My dad worked in the Postal department and mom, with APSRTC. When did you make your entry into Tollywood? And your background earlier? But, we don’t know why, she preferred not to make any mention to her performance as X class girl in Soundarya’s film Ammoru (1995). In an exclusive interview to Idlebrain, this celebrity of God’s Own Country but shunned heroine of Andhra Pradesh, she reveals how Malayalam guys propose to her, about the dangers of Zero-size mania, and the necessity to have performance-oriented films for heroines instead of mere glam dolls. It shouldn’t happen to our Telugu girls,” Lahari regrets with a curl on her lip (out of irritation towards Tollywood). “I learnt Bharatanatyam for eight years and loved the big screen more than my life. Everybody was ready to offer her the roles of – heroine’s friend or sister, hero’s sister, or a character role.
She met almost all the directors and producers. Her love for mother industry yet put her at the receiving end. Caught in the mire of anger, disappointment and vexation, she flew to Kerala, where she did 10 films as heroine, with 3 films ready for release and two more set for launch in the coming weeks. She tried and tried like the proverbial spider but couldn’t build her web. Of course, that proved lethal dose to her advancement as heroine in Tollywood. Later, she took the avatar as “Chiranjeevi gari Mena Kodalu” in Indra. Two years later, she realized her dream in a small film and that went into the oblivion soon. In the film College, again she played the second fiddle. But, she had to adjust making debut as “side-actress” in EVV Satyanrayana starrer “Ammo Okato Thareeku” (2000), for which she got a remuneration of Rs. You must continue whether you like it or not, says Lahari alias Lakshmi Lahari alias Lakshmi Sharma (in Malayalam) came to Hyderabad from Vijayawada to pursue her dream to become a heroine. For a male or female, life in the glitter world is like riding a tiger.