My roots have worked to my advantage: Yamini Bhaskar

...says the actor who plays a brave and modern girl in Naga Shaurya’s @Narthanasala, which hits the screens on Thursday
My roots have worked to my advantage: Yamini Bhaskar

After her acclaimed performance in her debut film Keechaka, Yamini Bhaskar, the Telugu girl-next-door is out to leave her mark on the silver screen with @Narthanasala, a rom-com also starring Naga Shaurya and Kashmira Paradesi.

The Vijayawada-born actor is confident of her ability to amaze the audience with her portrayal of a character that’s inspired by Ramya Krishna’s iconic Neelambari from Superstar Rajinikanth’s Narasimha. “I play Satyabhama, a brave and modern girl, known for both her strong will and temper. In the film, Kashmira and I are poles apart in terms of personality, background and attitude towards life akin to Soundarya and Ramya Krishna from Narasimha,” shares Yamini.

The character required her to perform some stunts without using a body double. “I did a three-day workshop to learn that part, but I must say it was physically strenuous and I suffered some blows while performing those stunts. No regrets, though, as I enjoyed playing this power-packed role,” she says.

The conversation veers towards her initial days in the industry and the actor reveals that she has been in difficult situations due to lack of background. “After Keechaka, I struggled to get good roles and lost some work too. I came out of them and did a film each in Tamil and Malayalam. Unfortunately, these roles too proved to be insignificant. Hence, I would like to call @Narthanasala as my debut film.”

Yamini has had to face the casting couch in the industry too. Recounting her experience, she says, “ Like any other profession, there are positives and negatives in this industry. I did face the casting couch too, but it wasn’t as if every filmmaker approached was at fault. I learnt to say no to such propositions and that has made me stronger about the kind of work I should do. I feel blessed to be a Telugu girl and I think my roots have worked to my advantage. Newcomers would do well to develop some patience and not surrender to these things.”

Not many know that acting was not Yamini’s dream job. “I am a trained Kuchipudi dancer and have been performing since I was 12. My father passed away long ago and currently, I live with my brother and mother, who has been really supportive in all my endeavours. In fact, it was my late father’s wish to see me as an actor someday and eventually, I moved to Hyderabad four years ago and enrolled in an acting course with Devadas Kanakala before doing Keechaka. I feel glad to have made my way into the industry and to have achieved something.”

Has she signed any other film? “I have completed shooting for Bhale Manchi Chowka Beram and if this film (@Narthanasala) does well, I might get better scripts. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the release this Thursday.”

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