Anjali sheds her image for Kona Venkat

Actress Anjali, besides grooving for a number, will be seen in a supporting role as Phoolan Devi in the forthcoming film ‘Shankarabharanam’, directed by Uday Nandanavanam. The actress says that the feature happened by chance. “It’s not a regular cameo or a blink and miss appearance. Although it lasts for a few minutes it changes the whole crux of the story.

“Initially, when Kona sir (film’s writer) approached me for a cameo, I was curious to know about it. But later he told me that I play a gangster. I was like, ‘Sir, I look like a girl-next-door, so who’ll see me as a gangster from Bihar (laughs)?’ But Kona convinced me, saying that he has confidence in my abilities,” she explains.

Apparently, filming a song on the actress was an after-thought. “Kona sir later said, ‘I want to extend your role and add a song’. I politely obliged to it. When I heard the song I knew it would be a hit number because of the foot-tapping composition,” Anjali beams.

Ever since the song was released online, she has been getting rave reviews for it. Describing about what went into the making of it, she says, “It’s a high energy number and a take on men. Holding a pistol and exhibiting the mannerisms of a typical Bihar gangster was thrilling. My attires, expressions, body language, walking style, etc were envisaged in a way that they should reflect their (Bihari) culture.”

By Sashidhar Adivi