'Desire for money, jewellery drew me to films'

Lakshmi looks back

“I was attracted to the silver screen because I had a desire to earn money and buy expensive jewellery for myself,” said Lakshmi, a versatile actress famously known as ‘Julie’, for her role in movie of the same name.

Speaking at a function organised by Karnataka Chalanachitra Akademi at Gandhi Bhavan as part of the ‘Belli Hejje’ series on Sunday, Lakshmi shared events from her life with the audience of admirers.

“When I entered the film industry, I did not have any ambition. I was fascinated by the glamour and the money associated with it.” She recounted how she had demanded a payment of Rs 2,500 for her first movie and for her first Kannada movie ‘Goadalli CID 999’. “ In those days, diamond earrings used to cost Rs 3,000. From the money I made, I wanted to buy myself a watch and jewellery. These are the fantasies that 16-year-old girls had back then, and I was also one of them.”

She expressed her belief that everyone had  hidden talent to act but only those who pursue with interest succeed. For actors to be able to perform best, they need a good director who can hone their skills.

“I did not like Bollywood and I got more encouragement in the South,” Lakshmi said on why she did not work in more Hindi films. “My mother tongue is Tamil, my father spoke Telugu and Kannada is the language which helped me make a living. Without these three languages, there would never have been a Lakshmi”, she said with emotion.

“Artistes these days refuse to listen to advice. They will learn when they stumble and make mistakes, which is why I do not offer advice to anyone,” she said.

President of Karnataka Chalanachitra Akademi Rajendra Singh Babu, director Bhagvan, president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce Sa Ra Govindu were also present at the event.