Actor Madhoo, who wowed audiences recently with director Balaji Mohan’s Vaayai Moodi Pesavum , is on a high. She’s just been signed up for the Kannada remake of the Telugu superhit Attarintiki Daredi , to be directed by Nanda Kishore. She will reprise Nadiya’s role from the original, while Sudeep plays the hero.
“Shooting will take place in August and September, and I’m thrilled about the movie,” says Madhoo. As always, her kids’ routine comes first. “That’s my first priority when I take up a film. My mother-in-law is coming down from London to stay with the kids for two months. So, I’ll be free to shoot,” she adds.
Madhoo says she always looks to connect the dots before signing a movie. “With Vaayai… , it was working in Dulquer’s first movie, because his father Mammootty worked in my first film. The Kannada film is produced by M. Chandrashekar, who also produced Annaya , my blockbuster with Ravichandran. I never sign a film till my heart okays it. With this film, things just fell in place. And, I loved it when Chandru told me, ‘Welcome to the family’. That’s how it was during Annaya ,” she says.
The actress has been receiving a lot of feelers from the Tamil film industry too. “I’m delighted with what Vaayai … has done for me. The production team gave me so much of love, affection and attention. They introduced me to everyone with so much enthusiasm. I’ve got so much exposure thanks to that film. The love has been coming in through social media, e-mails… I’m overwhelmed.” In fact, the Kannada film was offered to her after the team watched Vaayai …
She’s also pondering over some Hindi projects that have come her way. “I have heard some stories, but am very confused. I like the whole set-up, but my heart is yet to green light any project. But, I am keen on working in Hindi and might just sign up for a movie and see how it goes.”
Though the Kannada team wanted her to watch Attarintiki …to familiarise herself with the film’s milieu, Madhoo chose not to. “Nadiya is a fantastic actress, and I do not want to watch the film and be influenced by her. I want to understand and interpret the role my way,” she says.
She’s also hoping to act in more Tamil movies. “All these years, when I was away in Mumbai, I kept in touch with the industry by watching its delightful commercial potboilers. “I’d love to act with Rajinikanth, Vijay… Vijay’s films have been the most entertaining,” she smiles.
