'This is my first and last item number'

Confident Actress

It has been two years since Govindaya Namaha hit the silver screen but Parul Yadav’s performance as the young Muslim girl Mumtaz is still fresh in everyone’s mind.

Especially the song Pyarge Aagbitaithe, which went viral, turned her into one of the most wanted actresses in the Kannada film industry. The actress recently shot for an item song in Shravani Subramanya, which she admits was never a part of her plans.

“At first, I didn’t want to be a part of the song. I refused the offer point black. I have been offered many item songs and I was very certain that I wouldn’t want to be a part of any of them. But then Suresh, the producer, who had given me my break in Kannada films, is producing this film and he was determined that only I would do this song. So as a token of my gratitude for what he had done for me, I agreed to be a part of this film,” says Parul.

But she also goes on to say that it was a risk she had to take in her career. “When you are a leading lady, doing one such song opens the flood gates for many others. I want to be known as an actor by the work that I do. I don’t want to use this as a shortcut to fame. That’s why I have made it very clear to Suresh sir and the team of Shravani Subramanya that this is my first and last item number. It’s also funny because I have never seen myself as a dancer. I don’t think I can dance very well but after Pyarge Aagbitaithe, many people told me that I am good,” she says.

Nevertheless, the actress is not afraid to try out something new. “I was dabbling in Tamil and Malayalam films when Govindaya Namaha was offered to me. When I took it up, people told me I was mad and the movie would be a bad film. But look, where that film has got me today. At times, going along with one’s instinct and belief
in the project really works,” she says. 

Speaking about the song, Parul says that it is very different from Pyarge Aagbitaithe. “This is a folk number which was sung by Manjula Gururaj. In fact, it was very challenging as for every word I had to give an expression. So I practised for many days to get the moves right and also the words, to lip-sync the song. I think we have got a good number on our hands and I hope the audience will like it,” she adds.

After playing the Muslim girl in Govindaya Namaha and the modern girl in Bachchan, Parul will soon play a traditional girl in the Vijay-starrer Shivajinagar. “I play an Iyengar brahmin girl in this film, who comes from a very conservative family. There is a lot of scope for performance in this movie and I am looking forward to it,” she says.

The actress says that the fame she got from the Kannada film industry has gotten her offers from Tamil and Telugu as well. “The pressure to deliver good movies is there. But I am willing to wait for good films and roles,” she signs off.