Sudharani: I have much more to offer than just looking beautiful

Ahead of the release of Life Jothe Ondu Selfie, Sudharani, in a tell-all interview, opens up about the discrimination she has faced owing to her light skin tone
Sudharani: I have much more to offer than just looking beautiful

Sudharani was happy, surprised and excited to be part of Dinakar Thoogudeepa’s Life Jothe Ondu Selfie. She says it is very rare to come across such subjects at a time when not too much stuff is written exclusively for women.

The actor has managed to hog the limelight for years now. While fraternity and fans wonder how she has maintained her position in the industry, Sudharani who is prepping for the release of her upcoming film, Life Jothe Ondu Selfie, tells us about the struggles she’s had to face including being discriminated for her skin colour. “Some filmmakers felt that since I’m on the fairer side, I don’t look convincing in certain roles. They feel I only fit into city-bred kind of characters. At one point, I was taken aback when caste was a deciding factor,” she says.

For her part, Sudharani says she has always gone with her gut feel. “But there are times, I have gone wrong. Maybe I trusted the makers too much or it was just blind faith or a raw deal. This used to be the case when I made the transition from being a heroine to playing character roles. But it was a move I had to make because I wanted to prove myself as an actor,” she adds.

At present, she feels, the industry scenario is such that character artistes are not given as much prominence as the hero and heroine. “But, the story of Life...is one which each and every person, irrespective of age or gender, can identify with. My role, specifically, is one that tells people to never give up. Overall it is a feel-good film with a good message,” she says.

Of late, Sudharani says, she finds filmmakers don’t have character roles exclusively written for women. “I don’t like to be considered as someone who just ups the glam quotient of a film. In fact, it irks me when industry insiders label me as just beautiful. I am often asked ‘how I manage to still look beautiful?’ It hurts me. I don’t want to be known as an actor who has beauty without brains. I have much more to offer than just looking beautiful,” she explains.

Ahead of the release of the Dinakara Thoogudeepa directorial, in which she features in a key role, Sudharani recalls an interaction with a famous actor, who mentioned to her that 'it’s not enough play lead roles; you have to bring them alive'. “I don't want to be identified with one type of character either. Hopefully, in Life... I’ll be able to prove myself in a different kind of role,” she says. 

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