Director Gautham Vasudev Menon On Casting Ramya Krishnan In Queen, ‘She Can Evoke Every Emotion Inside You’

We often hear of directors’ talk about their vision and inspiration for a certain character in their series/film. They are often adamant about who they see playing that crucial role and end up completing the project only if they find that actor who is a ‘perfect fit’. Just like many others in the industry, Gautham Vasudev Menon is one such director who was hell-bent on casting powerhouse performer Ramya Krishnan in the titular role of MX Player’s original web series ‘Queen’.

Commenting on the same, Gautham said, “I have deeply admired Ramya as an actor. Her acting prowess and strong screen presence have enticed several viewers to live the part alongside her. She can evoke every emotion inside you as an audience and when I first thought of Shakthi’s character, I knew that if anyone could understand Shakthi and do justice to the role, it would only be Ramya and none other.” To watch the first episode, click here. 

Well, he did not stop at that! While casting the roles of Shakthi’s mother, Ranganayaki in different eras of her life, he knew exactly who he wanted for those parts. Popular actress Tulasi Sivamani who is acclaimed for her work in Telugu films, as well as regional star Sonia Aggarwal, were his first and only choice for the role of Ranganayaki. Expressing excitement on having the two actresses on board, he says, “I wanted to cast two actresses who would play the same role of Ranganayaki in different eras. It is usually a challenge to cast two people in the same role while maintaining the continuity and authenticity of the character. Both Tulasi and Sonia bring alive the struggles of this single mother who has a different equation with Shakthi as she grows up through the years.”  (ALSO READ: Queen Review: Actress Ramya Krishnan Nails It With Her Gripping Performance)

The Telugu edition of the show went live on December 28, and the series stars yet another well-known face of the Telugu industry, Vamsi Krishna, in a pivotal role. Vamsi owns more than 40 films to his credit in the Film Industry has thanked Gautham Vasudev Menon in the past for kickstarting his acting career. He made his debut with GVM’s film ‘Gharshana’ which released in 2004, a blockbuster with an ensemble cast. GVM and Vamsi now reunite after 15 years and have yet again delivered a super hit in the digital space with MX Player’s ‘Queen’.

The series ‘Queen’ is inspired by true events and the web series traces the life of an unstoppable woman – her rise, her power, and her life and someone who fought against all odds in a man’s world. It sees an ensemble cast with mega-star Ramya Krishnan headlining the series along with Anikha Surendran, Anjana Jayaprakash and Indrajith Sukumaran amongst others.