Beware of cheats.........

-Gayatri Jayaram

(Source : Cinema Express, March 1-15, 2003)

How did you become an actress?

Even as I was a kid, I got offers to work in films. I wasn't interested, and none in my family had anything to do with films. One reason I refused the offers was I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. Inspite of getting 94%, I was unable to get a seat in a medical college. I was offered Physiotehrapy. I lost interest in that and then turned to modelling. I did my B Sc Life Science at IGNOU. In 2000, I was among the top four in the Miss India contest. It was then I was chosen to work in television serials by Director K Balachander. I worked in some teleserails. During that time, the renowned Kannada film Director T S Nagabharana approached me for working as heroine in the film 'Neela'. The role was of a tribal girl, and a good singer. She is a victim of throat cancer, and she wages a battle against the disease. A good character, and a great story. The film bagged a National Award.

I did the film and it fetched me a few awards. However, after that I had been offered only glamour roles in the Tamil film industry. I am not fond of working in these roles. I believe my next film 'Nee Varum Padhaiyellam' would be a turning point in my career.

Your experience of working in 'Manathai Thirudi Vittai', 'April Mathathil', 'Sri', and 'Vaseegara' ?

In 'Manathai Thirudi Vittai', I worked with Prabu Deva. The song 'Manjukaattu Maina' was popular. It was a film of KRG. The film did fairly well. In 'April Mathathil', I played a small role. I did the film for the producers Gnanavel and Jayaprakash, and the Director, Stanley. The film did well. In 'Vaseegara", I was given offered the role to do the dance for a song. Now, the top actresses all do a song in films, and I too agreed. The film 'Sri' was a big disappointment. Many of my scenes were cut off. I'd rather not mention that I did the film.

Then there was this producer....I have never met him before. I haven't even spoken to him over the telephone. But there were posters all around that I was doing his film. It was then I realized there were people who could take you for a ride in the film industry. One ought to beware of cheats.

The film 'Nee Varum Padaiyellam' would certainly be a turning point in my career. I am not doing a galmour role in the film. It is a heavy character. If the hero of the film appears in 30 scenes, I appear in 25. The film would prove my acting talent. I am the only heroine in the film. I would go to the extent of saying 'Nee Varum Padaiyellam' is my first Tamil film.

What's in store for the future?

If I get good characters, good banners, good Directors, I'd ceratinly act. I don't say I'd not do glamour roles, but if the role is only a glamorous one, I'd say goodbye to the one who offers me such a role. Money isn't all that important, I look forward to good characters.