Siddhi finds her home in Tamil cinema

Siddhi Idnani is currently in an exciting and self-assured phase in her career. In a chat with us, the actress opens up about how Tamil has become her first language, her first time headlining a film, and sustaining herself in the industry. Excerpts:

‘TAMIL HAS BECOME MY FIRST LANGUAGE’My first Tamil film was Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (2022). Nobody could have got a better launch and I’m happy that the film has a place in people’s hearts. I know Tamil properly now and it has become my first language. When I go to a Gujarati or Hindi film set, I feel alienated because I’m so used to the ways of the Tamil industry. In between, I like doing one Gujarati or one Hindi film. It keeps me on my toes, and it’s important to not settle. Cinema, at the end of the day, is universal.

‘‘THERE IS NO TIME TO REST WHEN YOU ARE HEADLINING A PROJECT’It’s a lot of responsibility and pressure to lead a film. In my previous films, I’ve got good roles, but the film rests mainly on the hero’s shoulders. If the hero is shooting an action sequence, I might have two to three hours to rest. But when you are headlining a project, there is no time to rest at all. Even if it’s not your shot, you’re always on set trying to figure out what everybody else is doing to make sure you’re in sync with their shots. But I make sure I have a great time on set. I’m happy to wake up at 6am to go to the set.

‘ACTORS HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS TODAY BECAUSE UNIQUE FILMS ARE BEING MADE’Radikaa (Sarathkumar) ma’am is doing a film like Thaai Kizhavi. Nobody would have made such a film 30 years ago. Actors today have a lot of options because there are such unique films being made. I’m trying to pave my own path where I do good films that make me happy. I’ve now done a very unique film with Diary director Innasi Pandiyan. We finished shooting it in November. I also did Nooru Kodi Vaanavil with Sasi sir. He is a director who wants to finalise everything before he goes on set. So, we did a workshop for almost two months before going to shoot.

‘YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU’I’m so used to working, so the wait time between projects is maddening. Even if I have five films lined up, there’s a possibility of postponement or cancellation; it’s unpredictable. So, your mental health has to be your top priority. You have to make sure that you are surrounded by people who love you. Only then can you survive in such an uncertain industry.

Siddhi’s skincare secretI do a lot of hydrafacials because I have dry skin. I tend to tan a lot and get freckles. But now, people are getting freckles tattooed on their faces! I’ve also started using a heavy-duty sunscreen, which I ensure I wear even when shooting indoors, as the lights may cause skin issues and dark spots. Staying hydrated is also a must.

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