Actress and producer Lakshmi Manchu recently opened up about the challenges she faced in the entertainment industry despite having been a part of an influential family in the Telugu entertainment industry. Having been a part of movies like Monster, Lakshmi Bomb, and other projects, Mohan Babu’s daughter recently sat down for an exclusive chat with SpotboyE and shared her perception of how filmmakers can evolve their craft of storytelling more.
Having grown up in an influential family of Tollywood, what challenges did you face when you decided to become an actress?
The challenges, that is all I have been talking about all my life. Why does it have to be a double-edged sword and not more easier for someone whose family has been in the industry and for a woman to become an actress? That has been a challenge that we have been facing since centuries, since time began. For a woman to hold up and stand for what she wants to do. It’s a challenge that I still face, which is one of the reasons why I moved to Mumbai. To be in an incognito mode.
Can you share about your journey to become an actress and a producer?
I think, producing came first to me then being an actor, because that was more acceptable. I wanted to get into the industry in any which way possible, so I have been producing ever since I was in college in whatever way that would put me on a movie set. I think because of that, me becoming an actress was easier, in terms of giving it more light. I wanted to do acting, but the way to get to acting was through producing for me.
The internet has been pointing out nepotism practices in the entertainment industry be it Bollywood or Tollywood, for a few years now, what is your take on it?
My heart goes out to people that hurts nepotism for them. It is such a concept that I’m still not able to wrap my head around it. What else would your children become, once they are inspired by what they do then that is what they want to follow. Not all actors’ kids want to become actors, there are many that have chosen other careers for this specific reason. Looking at their parents, their timelines, and going ‘Oh my god, I’ll never want to do that’. I wish it was easier as I came from the industry, but the movie industry is one of the most difficult industries to stick on to, to feel relevant, in spite of whoever your family has been in the industry. So it’s even harder for people who come through a family member than with no background at all. You will get one or two roles because you are so and so, but after that, if you don’t prove your mettle, nobody is going to come get you or cast you.
When it comes to choosing projects as an actress what are the first things you look for?
When it comes to choosing projects, it is always the script. I see how meaty the script is.
From all the roles that you have essayed till now, which project of yours took a toll on you mentally/emotionally? How did you deal with it?
I think I keep making fun by saying that nothing easy comes to me, let it be my roles, or in films. Just what I take up on myself. Even though it seems like a simple character, I bring on so many layers to it. I have been trained by the best teachers of the world, who have drilled it into me, that what you do is not who you are. So when you finish a role, leave it on the set and don’t take it home, otherwise you will get emotionally and mentally disturbed. Having your entire life and your agency is more important than letting characters come into you and take over you. So having had that kind of education on how to deal with my characters, I’m very aware of when I bring it home. So I consciously leave it outside the door. You cannot, which most actors in India do, bring their characters home. That is not being professional in the work that you do. Some do bleed through, but for that, you need to have the best people to talk to like a psychologist or someone.
Who do you draw inspiration from the most?
I draw inspiration from anything that’s around me. From a great cup of coffee to everything. You need to as an artist, find those little things that inspire you.
OTT platforms have certainly given audiences access to worldwide content, your thoughts?
I love the OTT platforms because I feel like I’m no more just an Indian actor, I’m a world performer because through OTTs movies are being seen and sent to places that would have otherwise been impossible for theatrical releases. So I’m loving the OTT platforms.
According to you, how can Bollywood, Tollywood, or other Indian entertainment industries evolve more to garner more attention from the masses?
That is a great question. I think we sitting in the woods like, let it be Hyderabad, Mumbai, the main cities live a completely different life than rural India or the second or third tier India. I think they need to live there to understand them rather than trying to give them futuristic, to make them more realistic, to relate to what the people in those towns are going through and that is something we really need to spend time with.
Do you think filmmakers should evolve with time and stop using the same formula they have been using for films since the 80s and 90s
I think filmmakers should do whatever they are doing as long as their movies are being seen. 10 years down the line, no matter how it is being made, we are still gonna refer to it as movies in the 2000s, so whatever is working stick to it because it's just not about creation and passion, it is ultimately a business that needs to bring money home and not lose it, while you are making these films.
For a few months now, there have been discussions about filmmakers using more budget in VFX, set designs, and paying actors salaries, rather than focusing on the plot and the storyline, like they did with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Heeramandi or Pooja Entertainment for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, since you also produce films, what do you think can be done about it?
Look at Game Of Thrones, it’s a television show, that threw people off in terms of the magnanimity of what one can bring to television. So when you are making movies, you want it to be bigger and better. You see Mission Impossible, where real stunts are being done. So you want to give that wow factor when it comes to theatres. We go to Sanjay Leela ji and the other entertainment productions because they can give you that larger-than-life feeling. Some work, some don’t. You never know what is sticking and what is not. When a movie works they say these are all the amazing reasons that it worked, and when it doesn’t work, they have as many same reasons, for why it is not working. I think, ultimately the script is the hero and when you concentrate on that is when you will see the fruit of what any film is.
As a producer, how do you decide which projects to back?
As a producer, I’m always seeing, how exciting would this be for our audience, how well can we execute it, how much fun we are going to have on the sets with it, is this really a story that I want to tell, and how badly do I want to tell it.
A filmmaker you want to work with?
As a filmmaker, I want to work with the world. There are so many incredible talents in India and abroad. I’m truly hoping that anytime somebody has been asking me what do you want to do next, I really want to do a Korean drama. That would be an exciting thing to do.
Your dream role
I think right now my dream role would be to work with Aamir Khan, who has been my eternal love, and Ranveer Singh. Most people call me the female version of him, because of my energy. How cool would it be for both of us to be in the same movie? That would be incredible.
Upcoming projects
I have quite a few projects coming up, mostly in Telugu. I will be signing something in the North very soon and I cannot wait to share the news when it’s done.
A message to aspiring actors
My message to aspiring actors is to know that your dreams have no expiration dates and that you are your own hero. Nobody is stopping you, other than yourself. Delete the noise outside of you, listen to your heart. Once you have gotten this acting bug which is a wrong word to use, but once you have got this zeal to be an actor, nothing should stop you. If you stay the course, God will open doors for you. The universe will open doors for you because the universe doesn’t have a choice other than doing what you want. It will test you to see how sure you are about it. So, stay the course
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