Meet Goa's bindaas heroine

Piaa made her debut in Poi Solla Porom, the Tamil remake of Khosla ka Khosla. The movie was produced by Priyadarshan and UTV Movies.

Piaa's second film was Aegan, the Tamil remake of Main Hoon Na. Now, she's back with her third film, the much hyped Goa, directed by Venkat Prabhu and produced by Soundarya Rajnikanth.

Shobha Warrier finds out more.

How did you get the offer to act in Goa?

Vijay, the director of Poi Solla Porom is like a mentor to me. If there's a good project, he would always recommend my name. He called me up one day to tell me that Venkat Prabhu would be calling me. You see, I had met him (Venkat) on the sets of Aegan where Ajith sir had introduced me to him. Like Vijay sir said, Venkat Prabhu called me and told me about the role. In 15 days, I was shooting on the beaches of Lankavi in Malaysia.

Venkat Prabhu's last two films were hits. Did it excite you to be in his film?

Yes, of course. He told me that girls have no significant role to play in his last two films. But Goa was an exception. So, to be a part of such a film is exciting for me. Whoever came to know about Goa was excited for me.

What is your role in Goa?

I play a Goan girl, Rashmi. I was cast because of my curly hair and style of dressing. They said I look like Goan girl!

Are you a bindaas girl in Goa?

I am very much a bindaas girl in the film.

How did you prepare for the role?

I didn't have to prepare for the role as the character dresses and behaves just like me. Goan girls generally dress in casual clothes, short pants, and sandals. I dress like this too when I am in Mumbai. There was not even an instance when I had to think of how to perform. Rashmi is me. I didn't have to do any homework.

There were reports about you meeting a ghost in Malaysia?

It is true but nobody believes it. After my horrifying experience of seeing a woman, I was told that the hotel and the room were haunted.

How was the experience of shooting in Goa?

How was working under Venkat Prabhu like? It is said that his crew always has a blast shooting films...

It was more than a blast! It took me few days to understand these guys. I had no option but to become bindaas like them. I met Venkat Prabhu for the first time in Chennai when he came to narrate the story. After narrating the story, he asked me, "Do you want to meet the guys?" I said, okay.

After meeting them, they asked me if I wanted to go out. They dragged me to a disco during the very first meeting itself. I remembered thinking how different a director he was!

I had carried only simple clothes with me when I went for the shoot as I am not a party person at all. But after meeting these guys, I went to Mumbai and brought my party clothes. And I was glad I did as they partied almost every day.

Goa was a unique and different experience for me. One of the guys would always be pulling each other's legs. You had to be ready for anything, any time. After working in Goa, I have become very wild! They have spoiled me!

After Aegan's disappointing performance, are you excited about Goa?

Aegan was not disappointing for me as I got to act with Ajith sir. That was the most wonderful thing. I had the maximum number of scenes with him. He is a wonderful person, a unique personality. You can learn a thousand things from him. He is far more than just a true gentleman. I was with him for a month, and there was not one instance when he lost his cool. I was a newcomer but the way he treated me was overwhelming. I was so touched.

I am looking forward to Goa. I will be in Chennai till the film releases. I want to be in the theatre with the audience on the first day itself.