Radhika Kumaraswamy's exclusive interview

Actress Radhika Kumaraswamy looks just like she did a decade ago despite this being her second innings in cinema. Currently on a divine sojourn to Mangaluru, Kumbakonam and Tirupathi, she jokes, “My film Rudratandava is releasing, so I’m putting my application in front of the gods to ensure the film does well.” She speaks about what made her choose this film and more.Excerpts:
A film outside my banner
After my comeback, this is the first film I have signed up for that is not being made under my banner. The story was good, and the director, Guru Deshpande, had just made a blockbuster. When he told me that the film was a remake of the Tamil film Pandiya Naadu, I listened to his narration first, and then watched the original. When I saw it, I knew I had to be a part of this film, because the heroine had a very powerful role. You get this gut feeling about a good film, and I knew this would be one of them. Also, viewers often attribute success to the film’s lead pair and I wanted to be that heroine who gets all that credit.
A hint of glamour
In the original, the heroine’s role was done keeping in sync with Tamil nativity. While the lead character in the Tamil film wore saris too, she usually didn’t let her hair loose. For the Kannada version, the makers decided to add a bit of glamour. So, I am seen wearing elegant chiffon saris and sporting a more contemporary look. The song Yaar Ee Hudugi has become very popular. In fact, when I visited my hometown recently, kids were singing that song loudly to me.
Working on Rudratandava
For an actor, there is nothing better than finding a director who understands his or her working style and develops a rapport. This is what Guru Deshpande and I share. He understood me and gave me the space to do my thing and improvise when need be. A big reason for this is the fact that he’s also young. He understands the pulse of the audience and plays to the younger generation. I understood this on the first day of our photoshoot itself. There was never a dull moment on the set. Chikkanna (co-actor in a comic role) kept us in splits. Cinematographer Vaali was like a magician, he’d have our next shot ready by the time we turned back our heads. It was the sort of team that left me feeling sad when we completed work.
Choosing roles...
I am currently filming Namagaagi opposite Vijay Raghavendra. I have a heroine-centric one with director Nanda Kishore. I’ve been offered all kinds of films lately, including that of a college-goer. I feel I have a lot more responsibility while choosing a role now as I am concerned about the kind of characters I play on screen.