Change is uncomfortable, yet inevitable: Shravani Lakshmi

Shravani Lakshmi, a graceful blend of art and ambition, is a classical dancer and Carnatic singer with accolades from the US. Drawn by her passion, she journeyed to India to breathe life into stories on Telugu and Tamil screens.

Q: You’re a classical dancer and have done some films. How did Shubham happen?

Answer: I’ve been dancing since I was three and still perform Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. My interest in acting grew through dance—I worked on student and indie films in the US, did 48-hour festivals, and pursued a Master’s in Filmmaking, even making a Natya Shastra documentary.

I moved to India to pursue acting in Telugu and Tamil cinema and spent over two years auditioning, turning down roles that didn’t resonate.

I’d auditioned for Praveen’s earlier films—once, I missed a shoot due to a classical ballet in the US. Later, I saw another casting call from him, auditioned, and within hours, got the part. That’s how Shubham came to me.

Q: How did you feel reading the script, which talks about gender roles and balance at home?

Answer: As a writer myself, I really value the idea of "show, don’t tell"—and Vasant does that so well. He doesn’t preach; he just shows reality, which makes the message more powerful. Setting such progressive ideas in the 2000s was brilliant. Shubham blends culture, humor, and values beautifully. Humor makes tough topics easier to connect with, and Vasant nailed that. I truly think it’s such a perfect blend of entertainment and values from our culture, braided together so beautifully in Shubham. And it’s also so funny—that’s why it’s really connecting with people.

Sometimes, with topics like these, it's easier to reach people or connect with them when it's told through humor—because humor is universal, right? We all laugh, we all have that ability. So presenting it that way—I think it’s pure genius by Vasant. Yeah.

Q: How are you enjoying the success of Shubham?

Answer: It's amazing! Honestly, "success" feels like too small a word for the kind of response we've been getting from the audience. I’m truly overwhelmed by how much people are laughing and enjoying the film in theaters. Walking into a theater and seeing hundreds of people genuinely laughing at scenes we worked on—it was so gratifying. That kind of reaction, that joy from the audience, feels like the biggest success.

I didn’t realize I was going to be part of that phenomenon, something that would connect so deeply with people. Seeing that laughter and happiness—it’s incredibly fulfilling. To me, that’s what true success is: making people feel something together in a theatre.

Q: After watching the movie, I heard someone say, “Okay, now let’s do a movie about how my grandfather had problems in life.”. How do you react when you hear things like these?

Answer: Right, right. Even people who contacted me after watching the film and said things like, “I’ll never ask my wife for coffee again,” and I would just laugh, because the point isn’t about asking for coffee. It’s about how you ask, the way you communicate.

I truly think change is hard. It’s very uncomfortable, and it happens slowly—over time. If you look at the difference between the 2000s and now, in 2025, just the fact that we’re even able to make a film like this shows how far we’ve come as a society. But it’ll still take many more films and many more years to get to a place of true equality and mutual understanding.

And I also think it’s important to point out that it’s not fair to expect everyone to interpret a film the same way. Everyone comes with their own upbringing, their own traumas, their own environments—and all of that shapes how they understand what they’re watching.

So I think, in a way, it’s funny—what people say after the movie. Because what really matters is what they leave the theater with. Whether it's a little guilt, a bit of happiness, some excitement, or even a small realization—like “next time I say or do something, I’ll be more mindful”—those are the feelings that truly bring change.

And I think that’s where the real difference starts to happen. Yeah, that’s beautiful.

Q: Your performance in Shubham felt very confident for a first major film. Did you feel nervous, and how did you manage it?

Answer: Thanks! I had done some indie films before, but Shubham was my first feature. Vasant gave me a role with two extremes—innocent and psychotic—which helped me a lot. My classical dance training taught me to express emotions quickly, which really helped on set.

I did feel nervous but reminded myself I was chosen for a reason. The positive energy on set and Praveen’s encouragement boosted my confidence. Like when he told me to “go for it” hitting the fridge, and I almost tipped it over! Trusting myself and the team was key.

Q: How did it feel working with Samantha, it's her first production as well?

Answer: Samantha ma’am is such an inspiration, and working with her on my very first big film was something I’ll never forget. I was saying this the other day—there was absolutely no reason for her to take on a project like this. It’s a completely new-age Telugu film with an entirely new cast. But not only did she take it up, she fully backed it and pushed all of us to the forefront. She wanted us, the actors, to be the face of Shubham. She encouraged us to connect with audiences in our own ways. In fact, she would often say, “Don’t talk about me—this is about you. Talk about yourselves. This is your journey.” If my parents gave me the wings to fly, Samantha ma’am gave me the runway.

Q: Can you tell us a few words about Praveen Kandregula?

Answer: Praveen is someone I truly admire. I’m a huge fan of his choices. Ever since I saw Cinema Bandi, I’ve wanted to work with him. He welcomes any input from the team and encourages us to explore and do whatever we want creatively. I really appreciate that because I come from a theatre background, where we love long takes and continuous performance. Praveen rarely calls “cut”; we just keep going, and I enjoy that a lot. That’s where the playful aspect of our craft comes alive.

I really enjoyed working with him and hope to work with him again and again. That kind of collaboration and camaraderie is rare in the industry. Unlike many directors who maintain a strict hierarchy, Praveen breaks down those walls. Before joining the project, I had heard about the rigid hierarchy in filmmaking, but he doesn’t care about that.

Q: Can you share any funny incidents?

Answer: There are so many! But one that I especially remember is when he was trying to set the energy for our acting in a specific scene. So, he was showing Gavireddy Srinivas a little sequence. He came over from the monitor with full energy and demonstrated the kind of intensity he wanted in the scene.

He was acting it out — and in doing so, chairs were flying, tables were falling… there was so much happening in just that one moment he was showing us! I thought it was absolutely hilarious. Not only was it funny, but it also showed his passion — what exactly he wants and how far he'll go to show it.

Q: What are your future plans and passions?

Answer: I want to be part of really beautiful and meaningful stories — that's why I came to this country. I want to be able to contribute to stories that matter.

Working on a project like this truly encouraged me to listen to my instincts and trust my gut. No matter what opportunities came before Subham, I kept feeling like they weren't aligning — not in my mind, and more importantly, not in my heart. But Subham just clicked for me. When Praveen was narrating the story to me, I was laughing throughout. I had this deep sense of comfort, like I was in the right place at the right time.

And especially when he told me my character’s name was Gayatri — that’s also my mother’s name! That felt like the cherry on top. I mean, my first debut film began with a character named after my mom, and now that character is receiving so much love — that means the world to me. I’m very emotional and sentimental that way.

I’ve also been writing. I actually started writing during my master’s in filmmaking in the U.S. — that’s when my passion for writing really began. I was even able to be a part of the Bandish Bandits remake on Amazon Prime Video. It’s a Hindi web series, and they needed a remake version. Since I also have a background in Carnatic music, I was able to contribute as a writer, which was very special for me.

Right now, I’m also working on writing my own story. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed — even short stories. Writing helps get my creative juices flowing, so I really hope to continue doing that.

Q: Do you write full scripts or just short stories or novels?

Answer: A little bit of both. I’ve written scripts, and I also enjoy writing short stories. Hopefully, someday you’ll see one of them out there! That would be amazing.

I really want more women to get into writing — especially in Telugu cinema. We need more female voices in the industry. It makes such a big difference.

Writing and acting go so beautifully hand-in-hand. When I write, I often find myself channeling my acting instincts — thinking through scenes in detail, imagining how a character would react or speak. And when I act, I use tools like backstories, subtext, and inner monologue — all of which stem from writing. So they really do complement each other perfectly.

Q: Please tell us about working with your co-stars?

Answer: I’ll start with Shalini—she’s everyone’s favorite. I follow her on Instagram, and it’s amazing. She’s amazing, not just as an artist but as a human being. She’s also a trailblazer for women in film. She wrote and acted in her own film called My Dear Donga, which is on Aha, and now she’s working on writing her next film too. She’s incredible.

On set, she was so much fun—super innovative and spontaneous. On the spot, she’d come up with different punches or expressions to use in a scene, especially in nasty or emotional scenes. That was so new and fascinating for me to watch. When I do improv, it usually happens in the moment—it might just be a small gesture or a word. But with Shalini, she brings so much content and creativity on the spot. It was amazing to watch her work. Working with her was truly a fun ride.

Next, there's Charan Perri. He started out with Instagram Reels or maybe TikTok—I’ve seen his Instagram content. You won’t believe it, but I’ve even spoken to people in the US who said his reels made them laugh on bad days or inspired them. He has that kind of impact. Then Vamshidhar Goud, he is such a fun, quick-witted guy, and he’s always striving to do good work. He brings such great energy—always saying, “Let’s do something good, let’s make it happen.” Working with him was an absolute joy.

Then there’s Shriya. I call her a firecracker! She’s one of the most entertaining people I’ve ever met. She knows everything that’s going on in the world—like, genuinely. She can hold a conversation on almost any topic. She’s very intelligent and incredibly fun to be around. Harshith keeps things light with his fun-loving nature; and Gavireddy Srinivas, my Venkatesh on screen, is a natural entertainer with spot-on comic timing.