Pinning hopes on Saguni for her big break in Tamil

Pinning hopes on Saguni for her big break in Tamil, Pranitha Subhash chats with Aravind G Shivkamal about her career, rumours and more

Porki was the first Kannada blockbuster of 2010 featuring action hero Darshan and debutante Pranitha Subhash. The song Sakkathaagoule… picturised on Pranitha became such a rage that audiences started identifying her as Porki Pranitha immediately. It was a dream debut for a girl, who had entered showbiz with no prior exposure or family background in films. The success of Porki catapulted Pranitha into the status of the hottest heroine of 2010. However, rumours soon began spreading that Pranitha was turning down offers in Kannada, especially with ‘lesser-known actors’. The rumour became stronger when she was selected to play the female lead in the Telugu film, Bava opposite Siddharth. It took more than a year for Pranitha to allay the misgivings about her choice of films and recoup her demand in Kannada. “You will not believe how my innocent comments became unexpected controversies. I never distanced myself from Kannada films. I don’t think language should be a barrier for actors. I never turned down any films nor rejected offers from lesser known actors. After Porki, I immediately landed Bava, which required more of my time. After spending nearly two years in the entertainment industry, I have become a mature actor, I think a lot more,” asserts Pranitha. Slowly but steadily, Pranitha made her way back into the Kannada film industry and the limelight with Jarasandha, directed by the award-winning film-maker Shashaank. One of the blockbusters of 2011, Jarasandha featured Duniya Vijay in the lead role with Pranitha playing his love interest. The songs of the movie are also big hits. “I am very happy because with the success of Jarasandha, film-makers have forgotten the past and have begun offering me meaty roles,” the actor says, jubilantly. She has now bagged three more Kannada films – Bheema Teeradalli with Duniya Vijay, Snehitaru (multi-actor film) and another untitled project. Talking about her success against all odds, Pranitha contends that luck has played a major role in shaping her career. She has been able to grab big projects in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil without the backing of any godfather or actor. In the same way, she earned her first Tamil film, the Arulnithi-starrer, Udhayan directed by debutant Chaplin. Pranitha admits that she was like a ‘fish out of water’ initially in her Tamil debut because of the language problem. “There were absolutely no issues when it came to the acting department. But the language was one of the biggest challenges. I picked up Telugu quickly, but Tamil was not so easy. But that is not the case now. I am at ease with Tamil too,” she smiles. When she was shooting for Udhayan, she got a call from the makers of Saguni with Karthi in the lead. “Yeah, it was unbelievable for me to play the female lead role in Saguni. I was so overjoyed. The movie is shaping up superbly and will give me my biggest break in Tamil,” Pranitha hopes, adding that she has already evaluated scripts of two more Tamil films. Interestingly, Pranitha does not have any agent, and picks projects on her own. She has achieved, at a very young age, what other actors yearn for, having acted opposite Darshan, Siddharth, Karthi and Duniya Vijay. “What else can I ask for? I entered the film industry as a stranger. Now, I have an identity. People mob me in public. Sometimes, it gives me happiness…sometimes, my friends are dumbfounded with the adulation I receive,” she raves. Of all the actors, it is Siddharth, who has left a lasting impression on Pranitha. “I have grown up watching his movies… and when Bava happened, I was on cloud 9. He is such a gentleman and a down-to-earth person,” she shares, adding that acting with Karthi was also equally challenging. “He is too good… Patience, professionalism and commitment are his strong points. I learnt a great deal from him as well.” Being young and inexperienced has put Pranitha in awkward situations with gossip mongers and the media. She recently hogged the headlines when a local publication twisted her comments on exposure in films. “My parents are doctors… and it was embarrassing for me. But nevertheless, I have overcome the problems. I believe I can handle myself,” the actor summarises.