'I am the soul of Shivajinagara'

Parul Yadav gets ready for her fourth Kannada film Shivajinagara.

Model-turned-actress Parul Yadav’s career zoomed ahead after she signed the Kannada film Govindaya Namaha in 2011.

The song Pyarge Aagbittaite that featured her with Komal even went viral.

However, the same pair could not repeat their success in their subsequent Kannada release Nandisha.

Parul, who is an interior designer by profession, then did the multi-starrer, Bachchan, which had Sudeep in the lead.

Her fourth Kannada release is Shivajinagara which is also her first film as a solo heroine.

In this interview with Srikanth Srinivasa, Parul talks about Shivajinagara and her movie career so far.

How did you accept a traditional role in Shivajinagara?

I play a traditional Brahmin girl, who wears half saris (langa dhavani). She pursues an undergraduate course in engineering and is in love with Duniya, Viji’s character, much against her father’s wishes.

My character carries much of the comedy quotient in the movie.

Of course, there is a lot of emotion which the audience will connect to. Unlike other action movies where the heroine is there just for the glamour and the songs, my character is the soul of the movie.

I am also lucky to have got a solo song in an action film. I also get to ride a bike, go horse riding and hanging on to a bus while proposing to the hero! 

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It was reported that you apologised to the director. Why?

When they approached me for this role, I took a while to say yes to this project. During the shoot the director said he was unhappy that I took a lot of time to say yes.

I had to say sorry because I made them wait. But it was unintentional. I am glad I said yes because this film will give me an opportunity to showcase my talent.

Why have you been slow to accept film offers, especially after the success of Govindaya Namaha and Bachchan?

I did get a lot of offers after Govindaya Namaha. I can’t say they were bad, but they were certainly not of my mindset.

This industry is not like a money-making machine for me to sign every movie. I don’t have to run my kitchen by signing every movie.

I will be happy if I retire with just 10 quality movies in my kitty, rather than act in 30 movies that do not make me happy because of the poor quality. 

How did you convert your weakness as an average dancer into your strength and become a good dancer?

By practising. Both my sisters are trained dancers. They always said I could not dance to save my life. I was very stiff.

But if you are willing to work hard you can achieve whatever you desire. I practice dance for an hour every day.

People loved me in the Pyarge song. What was once my weak point, is one of my strongest points now.

I was very happy when choreographer Harikrishna complimented me on my dancing, timing and movement. He put me on the top of the list of best dancers in the Kannada film industry.

How did you relate to your role in Shivajinagara?

I was happy to be offered a traditional role. I completely related to this role of a Brahmin girl who doesn’t eat non-vegetarian food, which is like me.

I don’t smoke or drink and I don’t eat non-veg food. But I don’t go against my parents, which is what I don’t relate to in this role.

I am very talkative and a prankster (in the film), which is a lot like me.

Were you more comfortable in multi-starrers?

Yes. I was more comfortable because it is a safe bet and because you are not burdened with carrying the film on your shoulders alone.

What kind of roles do you want to do?

I think actresses have not got their share in terms of opportunities to showcase their talent.

It is time heroines got their due. I would love to do women-oriented roles. I want to do performance-oriented roles and not just glamour roles.

I will continue to go slow in picking up new offers because the roles should excite me.