Shraddha Srinath’s surreal experience on the sets of Kaatru Veliyidai !

Kannada actress Shraddha Srinath who plays a brief role in Mani Ratnam’s Kaatru Veliyidai has shared her first day experience of shooting with the legend.

“On my first day on ‪#‎KaatruVeliyidai‬ sets, I saw Mani sir from afar. It was the first time I saw him. Balaji said, “Come, let’s go talk to him.” So we went. Balaji started talking to Mani sir, but not a word came out of my mouth. I was too awestruck to even speak. I only smiled.

And then we started shooting. Mani sir started briefing me about the scene. Again, at the risk of coming across as an idiot, I only smiled. And I listened intently, hanging on to every word he said. He was making jokes, he was scolding the assistant directors. It felt so surreal. And then it hit me. I was actually working with Mani Ratnam. He was actually talking to me. He was my director.

Today, we spoke for long. He asked me about how I started acting, about my background, about Kannada cinema. He told me his first film was in Kannada. He was very happy with how I performed. He told me he had heard about U Turn and that it was a hit film but unfortunately he couldn’t watch it.

I’ve grown up watching his films. Films like Bombay and Roja still give me goosebumps. I remember when I was an aspiring actor, I’d say to myself, someday I’ll act in a Mani Ratnam film. And it did happen. 

I don’t know how many of you will understand what I’m going through, but this is a huge, huge, HUGE deal for me.

Here’s a picture with this legendary man. I think I’ll frame it :),” wrote Shraddha in a lengthy post.

The movie stars Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari in the lead roles and is currently progressing in Ooty. Delhi Ganesh, K.P.A.C Lalitha, RJ Balaji and Vipin Sharma also play important roles in the project.