Colors Swati's exclusive interview

For someone who won the Filmfare Award and the Nandi Award for Best Actress, apart from a whole lot of critical acclaim, Swati hasn���t tasted too much success in mainstream cinema. But the confident and chirpy actress says that she is content with the way her career has shaped. In a chat with Hyderabad Times, Swati opens up about her filmi journey
You are still known as ���Colors��� Swati after your chat show ��� your first claim to fame.Does it bother you that you have never been able to get rid of that tag? I started working in the chat show as a pastime, but when the show went on to become a huge hit, everyone started calling me ���Colors��� Swati. I started getting numerous film offers, but I had just turned 17 and wasn���t ready then. However, since every show comes with a shelf life, I decided to discontinue with the show when it was highly popular. People still associate me with that show, but I don���t mind it because it was this TV stint that enabled me to take a big leap into Tollywood. In fact, I take pride in it.
You have earned a lot of critical acclaim in the Southern industry, but you still haven���t tasted much commercial success... I think I���ve achieved a lot. I���ve bagged the Filmfare and Nandi Award for Ashta Chemma and was also nominated for the Filmfare Best Actress award for my Tamil film Subramaniapuram ��� all this in a span of two to three years.
But you haven���t done a film with any big hero. Is that the reason why success has eluded you? The films that I���ve signed so far are the ones that came my way. I never ever approached any filmmaker to cast me in their film. Moreover, I���m very happy with what I���m doing and that���s what eventually matters, I guess.
It���s been quite some time since we saw you on screen. Has the break been deliberate? Yes, it is a deliberate move since I have become very choosy. I wasn���t coming across scripts that really excited me and I���m always more concerned about my character in the film. I���m in no hurry to do films. I want to do one project at a time.
Even when you were a part of a big film like RGV���s Katha Screenplay Darsakatvam Appalaraju, you were relegated to the sidelines. Why did you sign a film where you have so little to do? RGV is one of my favourite directors. And when someone of his calibre narrates the story to me, I couldn���t turn down. However, when the film went to the floors, the script was different and my role was minuscule (laughs).
Are you playing it safe by choosing only ���the girl next door��� roles? I was never particularly looking for any kind of role. Everything was falling into place and I took things as they came. Moreover, I began my career with Danger, a thriller, and then went on to do Subramaniapuram and Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule, which had me playing contrasting characters... So where���s the question of playing safe?
But you have never played any glamourous roles. Is that choice keeping you away from mainstream commercial cinema? No, it���s just that I never got any such roles. Maybe filmmakers don���t see me playing such characters. Personally, I want to be a part of all genres. It���s just that the scripts that have come my way, portray me in simple, yet significant roles. I think I���m lucky to get to play such characters.
So, we won���t see you sporting a bikini or doing bold scenes? I don���t think the script will ever demand a steamy or a bold scene from me, but it���s the characterisation that drives the film. Nobody has ever approached me with such a character so far. Perhaps you can blame my ���typecast��� image for that (laughs).
Apart from acting, you are known for your dubbing skills too. Why did you reject to lend vocals to Ileana in Julayi? I was shooting for my film, day and night. My schedule was hectic and my energy levels were low. It was during that time that I was asked to lend my vocals to Ileana���s character. But ���reject��� is a very harsh word to use. I had to give it a pass since I did not have the time to dub at that point of time.
How are you juggling your singing commitments along your acting? I must admit that my singing has been sidelined. I���m not a professional singer, although I keep getting offers. But my vocals have to suit the character to whom I���m lending the vocals too. When Devi Sri Prasad asked me to sing a peppy number in 100% Love, I took up the offer since my voice suited Tamannaah���s character. However, my focus will always be on acting.
Any upcoming projects? I���m currently working on two Telugu films ��� Bangaru Kodi Petta and Swamy Ra Ra ��� apart from an untitled film in Tamil.
We hear you have a Russian connection... Yes, my father used to work for the Indian Navy and was transferred to the USSR as a submariner. In fact, I was born in a city called Vladivostok and was named Svetlana! But my mom changed my name to the more conventional Swati (laughs).