(Source : www.cinesouth.com)

Gayathri Jayaram is not your usual starlet who runs to their mom at the end of the shots. She stands apart from the crowd. She is bold. She looks straight into your eyes when she answers your questions.

She had agreed to give an interview at her T. Nagar apartment. As I waited for her in her tastefully decorated living room, she appeared, tall and fresh and genuinely happy to see me.

She got ready to speak. She began, "I just returned from my swimming routine." She speaks good Tamil ("But, I can't write or read fluently.")

You can ask anything from her. She wouldn't mind answering. She doesn't believe in 'No Comments' (that's something she would never say).

Quiet a number of female models are getting into films these days. You are one such entrant too. How far has modeling background helped you in cinema?

Initially, models came only from Mumbai. But, ever since I made my debut in the year 2000, lot of Chennai based models began entering Tamil cinema. Girls who come from Modeling industry are not shy towards camera. Their dance skills might be slightly different. That's all. There are some girls who enter cinema without knowing even the basic stuffs about the actual shooting process like 'Action' and 'Cut'. If the cameraman asks them to look right, they look towards their right. They are not even aware that they are supposed to look to the camera's right. Modeling gives you a basic knowledge about such things.

So, is modeling the first step towards a career in movies?

Not necessarily. I know quiet a number of people who work and study and have modeling as their part-time occupation.

In all your four Tamil films, you had sacrificed your love towards the end...

My role was pretty good in 'Manadhai Thirudivittaai'. It's my sheer misfortune that I did a film like 'Shri'. I'm not responsible for all those accusations against me in the film. I did 'April Maadhathil' for the sake of the producers of the film Gnanavel and Jayprakash. They forgot to mention in the film's title card that it was a guest performance. When 'Vaseegaraa' arrived, I was wondering because the role looked very similar to that of 'April Maadhathil', but I accepted because I didn't want to miss the chance of working with Vijay. I did these two films because I was very secure about the film that I had with me, 'Nee Varum Pathaiyellam'.

The film belongs to the 'Kaadhal Kottai' variety. If the hero has 40 scenes, I have 50. I have lot of hope pinned on this film. The success of the film is not in my hands. Until now, Gayathri Jayaram was used as a glamour girl in all the films. This film is different. I haven't done anything glamorous. I don't even look pretty. People who saw 'Vaseegara' told me that I looked good in it. This film wouldn't earn such comments. With exception to one song, I didn't even wear sleeveless dress in the film. I was not given a chance to really perform in any of my previous films. All that I'm looking for from this film is appreciation from at least 10 people that my performance was good.

You speak good Tamil. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a Tamilian in the Tamil cine industry?

For more than 20 years, I had been living in Tamilnadu. I must have spent maybe a year and half in Mumbai. I got branded as a Mumbai Beauty as a result. I really don't know why Tamil cinema is crazy about Mumbai girls.

I have acted in Telugu and Kannada films too. There, they teach you everything from the basics. You only need to put in 20% of your efforts. The assistant director and Script writer take care of the rest. It is the other way around in Tamil cinema. You get to put in 80%. While working for other films, you can't understand what the unit members say to each other. They could be talking about you. Still, I'm working in Telugu and Kannada films. Next month, I start working for Malayalam films.

How do you manage film dances?

My folks taught me Bharathnatyam for a year when I was 6 or 7 years old. Cinema dance has nothing to do with it. When Prabhudeva asked me if I could dance, during the shooting of 'Manadhai Thirudi Vittai', I told him I didn't know. Each day, after returning home, I used to cry. When they were shooting the 'Chadugudu' song sequence in Pondicherry, my feet were soaked with blood. Even now, nobody believes that I didn't learn proper dance from anybody. They think I'm lying. Credits belong to Prabhudeva.

Dance still scares me. I didn't know until I arrived on the sets that I didn't have to dance for 'Poopola maanpola' song in 'Vaseegara'. Vijay and choreographer Saroj Khan were are waiting on the sets. I was scared that I might make a mess with my dance. Thank God. While dancing, I pay lot of attention to things like hairstyle, costumes, jewellery and make-up. Even if one was slightly out of place, I wouldn't dance. Somehow, I have managed to earn the reputation of being a reasonably good dancer.

Do you think Tamil cinema has the same kind of costume and dress sense that modeling industry has?

Tamil cinema doesn't have the kind of dress sense that modeling industry or Bollywood has. Maybe it is because we don't have such a huge market. They had spent more than 15 lakhs for each costume in 'Devdas'. Here, the total salary package of a heroine is Rs.15,00,000.

Since I was from modeling industry, the costumes of 'Manadhai Thirudi Vittaai' shocked me. Did I really have to wear such costumes? But, I had no choice. After the film I decided that even if I had to spend from my own pockets, I would hire my own fashion designer, hair stylist and make-up man. Bharatiraaja's niece, Vasuki is my costume designer. I feel safe now. These days, actresses are paying attention to their costumes. Reema Sen brings in her own costumes to dress herself up. There has been lot of change since the days of Roja and Meena. Nobody wears glittering dresses now. The industry is now waking up to the importance of costumes and the producer is willing to spend more for it.

Normally heroines speak about their heroes. You act with some heroine or the other in all your films. Why don't you tell us something about them?

Let me tell you something about 'Manadhai Thirudi Vittaai' that nobody else knows. I was first called to do the role that Koushalya did. Priyanka Trivedi was booked for doing the role that I did. We were at Ooty. Priyanka Trivedi was supposed to act her scenes that day. She couldn't make it because her relative had died that day. I was given that role.

Koushalya is the best co-star I ever had. I had learnt only from her that it is a prestige issue to have three or four assistants and touch-up boys.

Shruthika co-stared in 'Shri'. She is a very reserved girl. I'm 23. She is 14. Maybe that's why we couldn't gel well with each other. I was supposed to have 20 scenes in the film. They shot 5. Only 2 surfaced in the film. In this confusion, we didn't have a scene with each other. Shruthika is a very young girl. I wouldn't even think of entering cine industry at the age of fourteen.

Sneha was in 'April Maadhathil' and 'Vaseegaraa'. She wouldn't talk much. But, when she starts talking, she talks very sweetly. She has a great sense of humor. If the shot was being picturised on the road, she wouldn't mind talking to the pedestrians. She's a very sweet girl. She only takes moments to get ready for the next shots. She had her accident while working for 'April Maadhathil', didn't she? When I went to see her at the hospital, she was very pleased. She kept thanking me for a very long time. As far as I know, she never gets angry.

They picturised the last song sequence of the film 'King' She hadn't recovered from her leg fracture. It was a broken bone. But, she still danced. I could never do something like that!

Sneha's family is connected to films. Her sister is a costume designer. My elder sister is a journalist in Mumbai. My father wouldn't even watch my films. Even if I invite him to my film previews, he would only say, "You would have done well. I tend to feel very bored."

Vindhya plays my elder sister in 'Nee Varum Paadhaiyellaam'. I don't know why, but I feel extremely scared of her. She would speak to her assistants in Telugu. She wouldn't talk to anybody else. Vindhya and I have lot of scenes together. But, the only time we spoke to each other was about the diet.

You are still known for your 'Manja kaatu mainaa' song.

There are two actresses with similar names- Gayathri Jayaram and Gayathri Raghuram. Amidst the confusion, people call me 'Manja kaatu maina'. These days, when actresses vanish before the end of the day, it is reassuring to be known in places as far away as Malaysia for the song. You get to see the song almost everyday on Raj Digital Plus channel. That song is the reason why the actress called Gayathri Jayaram hasn't sunk into oblivion yet. She might begin to rise with 'Nee Varum Paadhaiyellaam'.

What are the things that embarrass you in this field?

My temper doesn't last beyond 60 seconds. But, when it is on, the whole place looks like a battlefield. I'm very punctual about time. But, in the industry, if the shooting begins at 7.00 AM, the first shot doesn't take place before 11.00 AM. I can't sit still for a moment. That's why I get very annoyed when I'm made to wait for hours together on the sets. In spite of this, Tamil cinema is known for its punctuality. I would have died had I gone to Hindi films.

I talk a lot. Even Press people remark about my talkatively. But, nobody talks to each other on the sets. My mother accompanies me for outdoor shootings. If shooting is in Chennai, I have to go by myself. People are hesitant to talk to me. It is different in Telugu and Kannada films. Even light men talk to me there. I shall quit the industry the day I begin to thoroughly hate it. I have a Rubics Cube with me to spend time on the sets. It is childish, but it serves the purpose of spending time.

What kind of girl is Gayathri Jayaram?

I talk a lot. 'Chatterbox' is the only remark that I got every year throughout my school. I love watching movies at Mayajaal, Prarthana and on TV. Friends are my priority. I wasn't introduced to them as an actress. I don't plan to continue for more than 5 years in the cine industry. But, these friends shall be forever. I love shopping. I spend most of the money I make only on shopping. And, I swim.

The producer of 'April Maadhatil' has remarked that he has never seen an actress like me. My mother is lot like me. She is not like the usual star mom. I have seen mothers of all stars right from Karishma Kapoor upto our own South Indian stars. My mother is very different from them. Usually, mothers have an iron grip over their daughters' careers. My mother doesn't interfere with mine.

Hey, gossips about you have decreased!

True. First, I didn't know how to handle Press people. When they saw me at home, they realized that I was not that kind of girl. Gossips died away gradually. When everybody lies about their age and claim to be 17, I'm bold enough to reveal my true age, 23. People therefore know that I don't hide anything. Initially, mother and I used to get very upset when gossips claimed that I was Prabhudeva's concubine.

I don't bother about them these days. If I'm going to act with the same hero again, there are going to be gossips. Let them come. I'm curious about what they have to say. These are things that even I wouldn't know about! That's why I'm interested in reading them now.