I don’t fit into the conventional category: Sowmya Jaganmurthy

Sowmya Jaganmurthy, who has associated with her husband and director Pawan Kumar in various projects, is back to the silver screen with the upcoming film, Bhinna. She was last seen playing a cameo role in Pancharangi in 2010.  The ace dancer and theatre artiste recalls her first experience as an actor, “ I hated the whole experience at that point, and I had decided never to get back.  Now, when I look back, I understand that it’s just a gradual process. Secondly, dancing has influenced me a lot. I always looked at it as acting with abhinayam. So, when I was given an opportunity again a few years ago, I felt I should make use of it. Offers kept coming in and I decided to take up whatever I was capable of.” 

Sowmya has two more projects in her hand. “I had completed shooting for Shukra Dese, before I picked up Bhinna. It is an art film directed by Joseph Ninasam. At the same time, I met Adarsh. After the audition, he decided to cast me,” she says. Sowmya is also part of Katha Sangama, an anthology comprising of seven short stories, headed by director Rishab Shetty. For one of the stories, she will share screen space with Prakash Belawadi. Apart from this, she has also been approached to be a part of a Tamil project. “In Kudrevala, I play three characters of different ages - a daughter, mother, and someone older aged 23, 30 and 55 respectively. I will start dubbing for that film soon,” she says.

Sowmya feels that there are few restrictions when it comes to acting. “In dance, especially with live music, you can hold your emotions, and you can’t fake that. When it comes to the camera, the minute the director says ‘cut’, it is over. As a dancer, it’s difficult for me to snap out of a scene.”

Bhinna features Sowmya as a businesswoman, but she is unwilling to reveal any further. “Vimala my character in the film, doesn’t get bothered about anything in life. I have just carried the essence of the character. My off-screen appearance as a very ethnic girl is quite in contrast to my character,” she says. 

Sowmya relies on the gut instinct to a large extent, and she also takes advice from his husband Pawan. “So far I have only done four films, and every time he has put across the pros and cons objectively. We discuss how I can go about a certain project or character. He knows me more than anybody else, and his tips enhance my approach and performance,” she says. 

“I’m okay with no work, but when I take up something, I give it my 100 per cent. With Adarsh, there was no second thought, and I was convinced about it after watching his first film Shuddhi. As an individual, I don’t fit into the conventional category. I come from a different background and I look different. I look forward to working with somebody who can break stereotypical barriers,” she adds.