'I try to keep my characters alive'

Popular Sandalwood actress Anu Prabhakar has carved a niche for herself in the film industry with her performances in movies like Hrudaya Hrudaya, Soorappa and Jamindarru.

The actress was recently seen at the opening of ‘Jewels of India’ at Jayamahal Palace. She had been a part of the initiative in 2005 with Deepika Padukone and is happy to be associated with it once again. “All women love jewellery and so do I. I am very fond of traditional South Indian jewellery with a modern touch.”

Anu is excited about her upcoming projects in which she plays contrasting characters. She is particularly looking forward to ‘Fair and Lovely’ in which she has a cameo and a movie based on the legendary Akkamahadevi. She has been busy shooting in the beautiful locales of Basavakalyana for the film.

“I play a dual role in the movie based on Akkamahadevi. I am playing her character from the sixteenth century and also the role of a student, Jyoti, who is pursuing her Ph.D on Akkamahadevi. Jyothi wants to recreate the happenings in Akkamahadevi’s life after doing a research on her.” 

Though Anu found it tough to navigate between the two roles, she found them fun. “Getting into the head of the personality is quite a task because I have to be careful about certain details like dialogue, language and emotions of both the characters. Playing a strong character like Akkamahadevi is quite an effort.”

When asked if the role had any influence on her in real life, she says, “She was ahead of her time and a feminist in her own way. Her personality inspires me.”

Anu adds that Akkamahadevi’s message on women empowerment still holds weight today as women face a lot of pressure from the society even today. She says, “I don’t want to sound like a feminist. But all that we are asking for is to be treated with respect.” She firmly believes that movies shouldn’t be classified into art and commercial cinema. “Whether it is a cameo or a full-fledged role like the one based on Akkamahadevi, my acting and emoting don’t differ. I try to keep my characters alive.”

Also pursuing MA in Sociology, Anu tries to strike a balance between her work and personal life. In the razzmatazz of Bollywood, regional cinema is getting a number of sponsors and becoming more commercial. “But in the process of commercialisation, we shouldn’t forget our roots,” she adds.

According to her, the film industry provides a lot of opportunities for youngsters nowadays. “Many avenues like film schools and acting workshops have opened up for youngsters. However, they should consider acting only if they are truly passionate about it and shouldn’t get carried away by the fame and money the industry offers.”