Haripriya's Trip to Glory

At just nineteen, she has already acted opposite leading actors in all the four south industries. She has appeared in more than fifteen films till date, with another six lined up in the coming days. For a rank outsider like Haripriya, who debuted on the silver screen at sixteen, the achievements haven't been so easy. Like any home-bred actor, Haripriya did not get the response she deserved from the Kannada film industry during her initial days. After hogging the limelight in Tamil and Telugu, it is only now that Kannada film-makers are laying a red carpet welcome for her with several Kannada projects. A young achiever, she is also a prolific horse-rider and swimmer, which according to her, should be part of any actor's armoury. Did we mention she also plays the violin like a pro? Needless to say, she is one of the most talented and glamorous actors to emerge from the Kannada film industry in recent times. Aravind G Shivkamal gets you more...

Why do you think you are more popular in languages other than Kannada?

I don't know the real answer. Maybe it is because I got more challenging roles in Tamil and Telugu leading people to notice me. I have done very good scripts and characters in other languages. In my debut Telugu movie Thakita Thakita, I played the role of Chandana. Whenever I visit Hyderabad, people on the streets still call me by that name. Likewise, my roles in my second Tamil film Vallakottai and Malayalam movie Swami Manikanta were also really popular. These were characters that instantly struck the audience with their recall factor.

The Kannada film industry seems to have suddenly re-discovered you.

It could be because I am getting recognition in other languages. Nevertheless, I am happy with whatever I am doing right now in Kannada. I have four films of which two are ready for release. This year has been really satisfying for me. I have already listened to half a dozen scripts. But I have not yet signed any new project. There was a time when girls from other languages, especially Hindi, were ruling the roost in our industry. That's not the situation anymore. Kannada-speaking actors are calling the shots.

Speaking of the domination of Kannadaspeaking girls, there appears to be an intense competition with several actors claiming the number one spot.

Well, what can I say? Competition is good in a creative field like cinema, but not the race for the number one title. It does not matter to me if someone's number 1 or 2. The entertainment industry is a volatile sector. Yesterday's top spot holder could be today's number ten and vice-versa. So, I really don't believe in this number theory. For me, what matters is the performance on screen. If I am able to win the hearts of people through my performance, there can be no greater achievement. Actors should try to excel through performance, challenging roles and screen presence in movies rather than doing 'x' number of films or commanding high remuneration. Those factors will not take you anywhere. You only become part of some statistics.

Why accept films that have multiple heroines after having acted solo in so many projects?

What's wrong in accepting such films? If the character is challenging, nothing should stop an actress from doing such roles. I don't have any such inhibitions. An actor should be open to all kinds of situations. In fact, in my next film Saagar, I am one of the two female leads along with Radhika Pandit. I am doing it because I just loved the role. As long as an actor can justify the role, she should not think whether there is more than one female lead in the film. I believe that as an actor, the focus should be on the screen presence. There is no need to feel insecure or threatened by the presence of a competitor or friend in the same film.

You seem to have your hands full with new movies. What movies are you up to now?

I am super excited. I have plenty of films in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam releasing over the next couple of months. Some of the films hold a lot of promise, especially my Tamil film Muran in which Cheran is the lead actor. It is a suspense thriller in which I play a different role. I am eagerly awaiting its release. I also have a Telugu movie Pilla Zamindar opposite Nani; my big Kannada film Manjina Hani opposite Ravichandran is complete. Shooting for Saagar with Prajwal Devaraj is in progress. Nande opposite Srimurali is done as well. I will start shooting for Super Shastri soon where I am again paired with Prajwal. There's a lot in store. You will see more of me on the big screen!

I believe that as an actor, the focus should be on the screen presence. There is no need to feel insecure or threatened by the presence of a competitor or friend in the same film.

STAR Talk

Haripriya means…
The chosen one; my name justifies me quite well.

What is your current state of mind?
That of a professional preoccupied with work

Your rules on the sets
Be as friendly as possible with everyone, including the lead actor, so that the on-screen chemistry is perfect.

What is your life mantra?
Ruling people’s hearts forever

Given a chance to go back in time, what will you do?
Learn things that I missed so far, especially during childhood