Regina Cassandra, who achieved great popularity among filmgoers with her work in films such as Siva Manasulo Sruthi, is returning to Telugu cinema after a long time with Utsavam. The actor’s last big Telugu project was the 2022 film Saakini Daakini, where she shared screenspace with Nivetha Thomas. Ahead of the film’s release, the actor spoke about why she decided to do Utsavam and her career trajectory, among other subjects.
Utsavam, directed by debutant Arjun Sai, has long been in the making. The film, launched over 7 years ago, was originally titled Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Also marking the Telugu debut for actor Dilip Prakash, Utsavam revolves around a love story while also capturing the trials and tribulations faced by theatre artists in present times. The actor is full of praises for Arjun Sai and his conviction to tell this story. She states, “The way Arjun narrated the story on our first session, I could tell he has really spent a lot of time with theatre artists. He did add a commercial element, but he really wanted to tell a rooted story. That’s what stood out the most—his determination to tell this story as his first film.”
According to Regina, Utsavam promises to offer a heartfelt exploration of theatre artists in the country, taking a look at how they manage their lives despite their limited earnings and financial stability. The Saakini Daakini star mentions that while such a subject could be easily approached like a social issue, Utsavam is not preachy in that regard. She adds, “It cannot be a social-issue-driven film but rather a commercial movie.”
The ensemble cast of Utsavam boasts some prominent names like Prakash Raj, Brahmandanam, Nasser, and Rajendra Prasad. However, considering both the lead actor and director are making their debuts with the film, it’s Regina Cassandra who has largely been driving the promotions. Regina states that she doesn't feel too much pressure while taking on the responsibility of promoting the film to as much as possible. She adds, “I have to show the same conviction during the promotions, as I do for my performances—that’s how it always has been.” Talking about the presence of many veteran actors in Utsavam, Regina states, “The reason we have so many prominent actors is so that more people come into the theatres. Also, actors like Prakash Raj and Nasser have been theatre artists, so there’s that sense of connectivity to the art form.” Regina asserts that it takes a lot of effort these days to bring people to the cinema halls. “I feel it’s easier to have an ensemble cast for films like this. I would say that their names also bring in a lot of viewers. I can only do the best in my role, but to have people come to the cinema, it takes more than a popular actor.”
For the past couple of years, Regina has been tackling work in multiple languages and mediums. After gaining recognition in the Hindi audience belt with Rocket Boyz, the actor has since worked in shows like Jaanbaaz Hindustan Ke and Farzi. When asked whether she has a set criteria for choosing projects, Regina responds, “Since my first Telugu film, Siva Manasulo Sruthi, I had only one goal, of becoming a versatile actor. The desire for versatility should never leave me. I want to do all kinds of roles possible, that’s my only goal.” The actor also mentions that she considered multiple factors before accepting a film or series offered to her. “I think about why I am doing it—is it for the character, do I have an equation with the director or production house, or whether the script is that good. Sometimes, I also like to go by my instinct and try to tap into a new audience segment with a project. If the answer ticks in at least two-three boxes, I go ahead and do it.”
Regina Cassandra has often talked about her love for sports and how she thinks her physical build makes her very suitable to play an athlete. When asked whether she plans to pursue doing a sports drama in the near future, Regina immediately replies with a laugh, “It’s only journalists who have been asking me this question for years. But sadly, I haven’t been offered any such films. I hope I get a script where I can actually do a sports drama." The actor also notes that in the past few years, many biographical sports-based films have been made across all languages. “So now, if I do any such film, it has to be very different and something that really needs me to be a part of it,” Regina signs off.