Shreya speaks about Kandaswamy and more

Shriya is back from Istanbul post shooting for Mission Istanbul and has three releases lined up this year. With Mission Istanbul, Kandaswamy and Across The Line (with the gorgeous Jesse Metcalfe from Desperate Housewives) in the pipeline, ERGO caught up with the star on her way to the airport.

Q: You were born in Haridwar, brought up in Delhi and Dehradun, debuted in Tollywood before moving on to Kollywood. Where are you originally from?
A: My dad is from Dehradun and my mum is from Jaipur and I grew up for a short while in Dehradun before moving to Delhi to learn Kathak from my guru, Shoba Narayan. I basically grew up in Delhi since I went to school (Delhi Public School) and college (Lady Sri Ram College) there.
Q: What about your childhood did you like?
A: I liked the fact that I tried out a number of hobbies then. After school, Kathak or friends took up most of my time. Since I lived very close to the Shivaliks range of the Himalayas, my friends and I used to go trekking, drink from the river and rough it out. I think it’s during those times that I developed an interest for the environment.
Q: You were a staff child in your school days, what was your relationship with your teachers?
A: I addressed most of my teachers as ‘aunty’ not at school, but at gatherings and get-togethers afterwards. I could have been a spoilt brat, but I was constantly under their vigilance, being their friend’s daughter.
Q: Going from a co-ed school like DPS to a girl’s college like LSR must have required altering principles, no doubt?
A: You can’t imagine! To this date, my closest friends are male. But being in LSR, a girl’s college and that too studying B.A English Literature did turn me into a feminist for a while (laughs). But that’s how work changed me, because I began to balance my views on issues.
Q: You landed your first film Ishtam opposite Charan as a result of a music video, true or false?
A: True, it was a Kathak music video titled Chalti Kyon Hawa.

Q: Sivaji changed everything for you, in terms of star status as well. How did your family react to your public status?
A: When my parents came down for Sivaji’s premiere, it was the first time they had watched my film with me. They were amazed by the crowd reaction to me. For myself as well, it was the time I realised the power of cinema, on a commercial level.
Q: So moving on, you have been shooting for Kandaswamy now. What should we look out for in this one?
A: I think my hairstyle has created waves. It’s too early to say whether the short hair will become a fad, but I have gotten positive responses from everyone. Also, I’m wearing little to no makeup in the film, and I hope the fresh look will work.

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