Bhagyashree, who has played Prabhas' mother in 'Radhe Shyam', is kicked about the film's release on March 11. In this interview, the former Bollywood star actress talks about her character, working with the 'Baahubali' superstar, her future projects, and more.
She also talks about her husband being very possessive about her in the past. Listen to her as she lauds Prabhas.
It was an absolute pleasure going on set after so many years. I was a little nervous initially. Director Radha Krishna Kumar told me he and others on set have so much respect and warmth for me.
Prabhas is everyone's darling. He became my darling also. He told me it's lovely to be working with me. I was wondering how I would be playing his mother. The story is that of a young mother who is also a dancer. As a dancer, she knows how to remain fit. I got into the character rather well. I didn't have to look plump.
Prabhas' mother in the film is an inspiration for why he lives his life the way he does. You have to watch the movie to know more. The romance (between Prabhas and Pooja Hegde) is more than grand.
Prabhas has got a larger-than-life image. When I started interacting with him, I did so with that image in mind. But he is soft-spoken, gives lots of respect to his co-stars. He is very down-to-earth and extremely humble. Prabhas maintains relationships and is a family man. His cousins and friends are close to him. He is someone who despite being a huge star values real relationships.
It was challenging to play a dancer, considering I am not a trained dancer. In a short span of time, I had to prepare for an entire dance number. I hardly had 5-6 days. Our dance forms like Kathak, Kuchipudi are complex. People learn such classical dance forms for years. I didn't want to give people a chance to point fingers at me. That was the toughest part. I hope people appreciate the hard work that went into it. We shot the dance sequence in freezing cold in Georgia.
The director wanted a mother who would look beautiful in every frame. He told me I am a mother in real life and beautiful and therefore I would be very apt for the role. A mother can be pretty! That's how he wanted to present me to the world. Lots of detailing went into designing the costumes. The hair styling was different in every frame. Not just the heroine but every important artist got to take care of the styling.
Both 'Radhe Shyam' and 'Thalaivi' came simultaneously almost. Due to the pandemic, there has been a gap between the two movies' release dates. A film like 'Radhe Shyam' deserves to be seen only on the big screen.
Manoj Paramahamsa's cinematography and the sets are absolutely stunning. I have been on a number of sets back in Mumbai. It was like being transported to another world.
The atmosphere on the set was more like being with a family. Thanks to Prabhas, we had delicious food coming on set. We would chit-chat during the breaks and would be charged up when it was shoot time!
I don't have long lines in the movie. I didn't have to learn the lines by heart. The director explained to me the meaning of each and every word. Telugu and Sanskrit bear resemblances. And so do Sanskrit and Marathi. Marathi is my mother tongue.
I am looking forward to working so much. When I started my career, I gave primacy to my family before career. I gave enough time for relationships. The woman is the pivot for any family. Now that my children are well-versed and ready to do whatever they want, I have got time. They asked me to do whatever I want to do.
On secret behind looking young: It's important to do things in moderation. Drink enough water. Sleep well. Enjoy your life with friends. In India, we eat a lot during festivals, get-togethers, etc. In today's times, everyone wants to become really slim. They give up on natural food. What matters the most is having a sense of gratitude. Don't carry grudges and don't look down upon anyone. Your inner personality shows on your face!
On quitting movies quite early: My husband was very possessive. I have confessed it already. He wanted to keep me at home (laughs).
I would love to work with lots of youngsters. We have all got exposed to international cinema due to OTT. New kinds of films and roles are being made/written. I would love to work with new talents.
