Suhasini Maniratnam has donned many hats in the film industry — that of an actor, filmmaker and a writer. And in the upcoming Telugu language anthology Modern Love Hyderabad, Suhasini will be seen acting in an emotionally charged role. Ahead of the show's release on Amazon Prime Video on July 8, Suhasini opens up to Lahari Velicheti about how it was actress Revathy who convinced her to take up the role.
"When Nagesh Kukunoor narrated the story and my character, I told him that it was a very nice story, but that I am not Kamal Haasan or Mohanlal — these are actors who can metamorphose themselves into a character, but I am a very realistic actor, almost like a woman next door kind. I told him that this character is completely different from what I usually do and that I did not want to do it because I will make a fool of myself," the actress says.
But soon after, she had an interesting conversation with actress Revathy, Suhasini reveals, adding, "She told me, "You are underestimating yourself. You are an actor, so take it as a challenge and do it." I took her advice and did it. Later, I told Nagesh that Revathi convinced me to do the role."
Speaking about her husband and filmmaker Mani Ratnam's influence on her acting career, Suhasini remembers an anecdote. "I started acting when I was 18 and a half or 19 years old. After marriage, when I completed my first day of shooting and came back home, Mani called me and asked if I acted well that day. I said, "I did it like I usually do." He said, "It isn't enough. You should put more effort and act better today than how you did in the last eight years," Suhasini says, adding that Mani has always inspired her to perform better.
And as for her take on her husband's upcoming magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan: I, Suhasini says that every character in the film's frame will be spectacular. "Each character in the frame is amazing and they have this never-seen-before look —you can see that tejas. You will also see a totally new Mani Ratnam in Ponniyin Selvan: I," the actress concludes.