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Hindi audiences may know her as the actress from Sooryavansham (1999), but she had been very dear to South cinema audience, she's none other than beloved Soundarya! (born Sowmya Sathyanarayana) At a time when the Hindi vs South debate continues even today, Soundarya had a refreshingly different perspective . Having worked across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films, she believed an actor should be judged by the performance, not the language. In this rare throwback interview, recorded before her Bollywood debut released, she shares her unfiltered thoughts on dream of choosing versatile roles & breaking language barriers! It's a timeless perspective that still feels relevant today. Don't miss this unseen conversation, only on Lehren.

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00:00I don't like to get typecasted, you know, that this girl can only do this role, you know, sort of.
00:05So, downside, I'm doing all different roles, like in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, I'm concentrating all on versatile roles.
00:11Well, I got a very lovely role in this film.
00:13So, I'm very happy that the very first film I'm acting with Amitabh ji, and so, Pela Meriko, a project
00:18offer me, I was like, totally, I thought it's a dream.
00:22My only ambition is, Hindi, I'm not aiming for any star or anything like that.
00:25I'd like to take name as an artist.
00:27I don't want to get into this number game.
00:28I'd like to do good roles, which will get me recognition.
00:37So, Andhra ji, Amitabh Bachchan ke saht, apko, apko, apko, apko, kaisa laga?
00:44Well, I never thought that, you know, it worked with him one day.
00:49So, Pela Meriko, a project offer me la, I was like, totally, I thought it's a dream.
00:56I was really excited.
00:59But in your entire professional life, did you ever dream of working with him?
01:02Not at all, I never thought that I'd be working with him one day.
01:08Tell us a little bit about your background.
01:11Well, I'm basically from Bangalore, born and brought up in Bangalore.
01:15I've completed nearly 50 films down south, that is Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.
01:20That is my professional background.
01:22Is this the first time that you're doing a Hindi movie?
01:25Yeah, first time I'm doing a Hindi movie.
01:28Well, I got a very lovely role in this film.
01:31So, I'm very happy that in the very first film I'm acting with Amitabh ji, and I'm quite comfortable with
01:37the language also, like, because I was basically a Sanskrit student at school.
01:42So, I can read and write Hindi very well.
01:45So, I'm very confident that I can speak Hindi too very well.
01:48And I think I'll work very hard, you know, for a lovely role, so I have to give my best.
01:59So, do you know something about the role of Amitabh ji, like Amitabh ji is playing a dual role, so
02:06I'm opposite Dengar Amitabh ji, I'm a collector in the film, so I'm an educated girl, and I can't say
02:17much about the role of the producers as well, you know, it's a very challenging role, all I can say
02:23is that, I have a lot of scope to perform.
02:25It's a strong character.
02:26It's a strong character.
02:26Very strong character, yeah.
02:29Okay.
02:32Where, what, what now, what, what next after this?
02:35I don't know, because my, this is my first Hindi film and I'm very new to North.
02:39I don't know, I have to wait till the film gets released.
02:42What are your expectations from this movie?
02:44I'm very optimistic, you know, like, I feel this film will definitely do well.
02:49Okay, tell us something about your goals and aspirations in life, what are your dreams?
02:55Dreams, well, always down South, like, always thought that I should become a versatile artist.
03:01I don't like to get typecasted, you know, that this girl can only do this role, you know, sort
03:06of.
03:06So, down South, I'm doing all different roles, like, in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, I'm concentrating
03:11all on versatile roles.
03:13So, I'd like to take name as a versatile artist, whether it's in Hindi or, you know.
03:17And, I'm not like, my only ambition is, Hindi, I'm not aiming for any star or anything like that.
03:23I'd like to take name as an artist.
03:26I don't want to get into this number game.
03:28I'd like to do good roles, which will get me recognition.
03:31Okay, when you're not acting, what do you do?
03:34Well, hardly I get time.
03:36So, whenever I get time, I read a lot of books.
03:40And, I listen to music.
03:42I watch TV.
03:44Okay.
03:45Ab, Bombay se, Bollywood se, kafi sare stars up, south, south mein aake, south ke production
03:50houses ke sat kaam kar rahe hain.
03:52Aur, counter wise, south ke log ab, Bombay jake kaam kar rahe hain.
03:55What do you have to say about that?
03:57See, I strongly believe that, uh, uh, uh, art is no bar, no, like, no language bar.
04:06No, wherever I go, it's only acting.
04:08You know, you know what I'm saying.
04:10So, uh, ziada felt meh, Bombay meh.
04:13But, like, only thing is, like, the language differs.
04:16The acting is the same.
04:17The lights, the camera, you know, everything is the same.
04:20So, I don't find much difference, like.
04:23I feel very comfortable anywhere, like.
04:26Because this is totally a Telugu unit.
04:28So, I don't think so whether, you know, I don't find any difference.
04:31And I've worked with the director before.
04:33I've worked with this production before, Padmalaya.
04:35So, I don't, uh, think I find much difference.
04:38Do you approve this trend?
04:41Yeah.
04:42Yes.
04:43Okay.
04:44Well, uh, they've done 50 films down south.
04:46I'm very new to Hindi.
04:48So, don't expect too much from me.
04:50I'm very new.
04:51Uh, so, I think, uh, be confident.
04:54Keep smiling.
04:54It doesn't cost you anything.
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