Gayathri Iyer is the next actor who has made her way to Bollywood, joining the bandwagon of south Indian heroines getting into Hindi films.This model-turned-actor has got a big break through her Hindi debut Raid, in which she plays the second lead opposite Ajay Devgn and shares screen space with Ileana D’Souza, who plays the female lead. Gayathri says she is excited and tells us how the film fell into her lap.

“I had to go through a lot of auditions. There were four rounds of auditions, each separated by 15 days that included a look test, before I was on board. Since I'd never worked with a casting team before, I was happy to be roped in on my merit,” says the actor.
 
Raid's director Rajkumar Gupta, has helmed films like Aamir and No One Killed Jessica. The film is made under Kumar Mangat productions in association with T-Series. 

“This film is realistic, something like Special 26 and my role is extremely important,”  Gayathri says, who started her tinsel town career in Telugu with Jagapati Babu starrer Six. She later got established in Kannada with films like Shivanna, Shrishti, Namo Boothamta and Tyson. Her last outing was Jagga Dada, in which she shared screen space with Darshan. 

Gayathri, who has been simultaneously working in Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam films, always wanted to work in Bollywood. “It feels great to make it to Bollywood without a Godfather or any influential house to bank on. It’s been really tough. There were days when I had actually given up, but then I still had hope and stayed in Mumbai,” she says.

The actor, throwing light on her role in Raid, says, “It was surprising for me as they picked a typical iyer ponnu, to play a Lucknowi girl. Moreover it is a non-glamorous role. No skin show, and absolutely down played with make up. I have been made to look as realistic as possible,” she says. 

About her co-star Ajay Devgn, she says, “He is an extremely down-to-earth actor and very secure. He is a very calm and composed person. It was great to work with him.”