She is known for her punching performances, and actress Shruthi as `Aane Baddi Rangavaa’ in the movie ‘Avva’, didn’t disappoint cinegoers this time too.

Going by the hardwork that she puts in, appreciation is a given. Only this time Shruthi had worn the grease paint not to play a damsel in distress, but to portray a woman with a lot of courage and strength.  “I have played the helpless woman many times. But here I was to play Rangavva, who was bold,” she says. There was also the language issue. “My character was abusive. I was uncomfortable mouthing such dialogues, yet I had to make it sound as if it was my natural way of talking. I had to work on the body language too. There was also a need for me to look much older than Smitha, who played my daughter’s role in the movie.” But director Kavitha Lankesh’s inputs and a reading of P Lankesh's novel ‘Mussanjeya Katha Prasanga’, on which the movie is based, helped, adds Shruthi.

“This project was a challenge. Not only did I have to live upto the imaginations of the people who had read the novel and perceived the character in their own way, but also had to put up a good show as there would be comparisons, what with plays based on the book having been staged,” she says.

All’s well that ends well, but didn’t she think twice before playing the role of an elderly woman? “ I just could not bring myself to say no to this script. When I was 16 years, I played mother to three kids in the film ‘Hettakaralu’. Such roles are a challenge. It’s been 18 years since I have been in the industry and I am at least doing lead roles. I prefer this to appearing just in songs or standing in a corner when the hero is bashing up the baddies,” Shruthi says.

Her next ‘AkkaTangi’, that is slated for an April release will however see her playing a character that matches her age. “Let’s hope at least after this, I’ll start getting roles that suit my age and I will not be asked to play mother of the leading heroes, who are by the way elder to me,” she jokes.

Given a choice Shruthi would however want to do comedy-oriented roles. “It’s easy for me to make people cry.

But to make them laugh is a difficult task. But I’ve done that too and I really enjoyed the experience.’’

Is she considering direction? ``I am capable of it and will venture into it one day. But right now I’m happy acting and spending time with my daughter Gowri.’’