Star Interviews
When I got to know that Arthi Agarwal is touring in USA as a promotion for her latest film nEnunnaanu, I called her to convey my wishes and planned to do an interview with her. She just landed and was still experiencing jet-lag when I called her. Her father Mr. Agarwal informed that the interview could be arranged on Sunday. There was initially some remorse when I called on Sunday to check if she can do the interview. It was because of an news item that was published on TeluguCinema.Com recently - it was not very pleasing to her family apparently. However, her family finally conceded that I can do the interview in an hour. Being as frank as I can be, I really changed my opinion about her after talking to her! She is very sweet and has not lost her cool composure even once in the whole interview! Here are some excerpts of the telephonic interview that was taken on April 11.
Sri: Hi, Arthi! How are you? Arthi: I am fine, Sri! How are you?
Sri: How was your Dallas trip? Did you enjoy all the attention you got there? Arthi: Oh, the trip was wonderful! And, yes, I enjoyed every minute there! It's the first time I am meeting so many fans outside India! I am really thrilled! It was really a wonderful experience!
Sri: Nice to know that you liked it, Arthi! Getting to the interview thing, what way would you prefer it to be? The regular interview style, as is common for big stars, blah blah, or a free speech kind of thing? Arthi: Sure, Sri! We will talk frankly! I am not a hypocrite; I shall answer all your questions, that's not a problem.
Sri: Okay, thanks a lot! I know you are just back from the Dallas trip. ...I heard that you demanded five thousand dollars for the trip, apart from first class tickets for the three people excluding you. Is that true? Arthi: (Shocked first, and then laughs) Who told you this? It is absolutely untrue! First thing is that I have not asked first class tickets on flight - it was in economy class, and for only two people - my father and I. I traveled five hours to be there on that day. I didn’t charge anything for the promotion of the film. I was paid very less amount than what you were told. Rather, I was paid not even half of it (laughs), if you want you can check with Mr. Prasad Totakura [Co-ordinator of the event]. He paid that money because I attended the party and entertained the fans - the regular stuff - autographs, posing for photos, etc. He charged them and gave some part of it to me. Now, what's wrong in that? Everyone does that!
Sri: What about the upcoming Boston and Chicago trips? ... Arthi: Yes, I am going to both places. And, by the way, I am getting paid very less compared to what you thought I am; you can check with both the organizers. They're all the same. (Before this interview was published in the website, I have indeed got first-hand information that what she said was true).
Sri: Okay now, about your weight thing... Arthi: What about it? Ask all those people in Dallas, they were surprised to see that I was not as fat as they thought I was; I reduced a lot of weight. ...Yes, I did put on a lot of weight while doing vasantam. There is a reason for that - we were in Athens and other foreign locations for a month, and I was unable to get Indian food there. I fed mostly on pizzas and chips and drank a lot of coke and so I gained weight. However, I reduced a lot of weight after that; you can see the difference in veeDE and in nEnunnaanu.
Sri: But, the hero teases you calling "gas cylinder" in nEnunnaanu... Arthi: See Sri, I cannot change the mind of people overnight. It is the fault of the dialogue-writer and the director! How can I change the dialogues of other people? I am not too familiar with Telugu myself, you know that. To tell you frankly, I did not come to the USA for a weight reduction program - I can do that in Hyderabad also! All my family is in USA, and I came here to attend my cousin’s marriage. Three marriages are coming up in my near family. I also needed a break from shootings - I felt that I needed some vacation so that I can be with my family for some time. This was the place I was born, and all my friends and relatives are here. That was why I came - to attend these celebrations in the family. I don’t know why such rumors come up on me always! There is some journalist in Hyderabad who is always behind me, attributing weird things to me and accusing me frequently and for no good reason. I got fed up with this, but what can I do?
Sri: Hmm! Sorry to hear that! ...By the way, how come you have not signed any new films after nEnunnaanu? Arthi: That's my choice, Sri! As I said earlier, I wanted to take a vacation from my busy schedules to be with my family and relatives! I did get a few offers after doing nEnunnaanu, including one from the director Neelakantha, one film with Raviteja, and one with Venu. But I didn’t sign any yet because I needed to take a vacation. You can check with Neelakantha gaaru if you want.
Sri: What about the hearsay that your father interferes in your work and demands money for everything? Arthi: As you’re saying, they are just rumors, Sri. See, my father is the only person for me in Hyderabad. Call him as whatever you want - manager or whatever - I wouldn’t mind. And, what is that demand I am making, or rather my father is asking!? He never interferes in my work. They do not pay me anything extra. They do not need to pay my hotel bills in Hyderabad like they do for other heroines. My father bought an apartment there for us. And I never ask for food from a star hotel, as we have a cook at home and we take lunch from home. What he asks in the sets is just half a cup of tea. He accompanies me to the sets and waits out side the sets, not in the sets! The only payment I get is the remuneration and reimbursement of my petrol bill, which is normal for any heroine. I don’t understand what anyone gets by spreading such rumors!
Sri: Interesting, Arthi! Don’t you feel bad that people are spreading these type or rumors against you? Arthi: What can I do about it? We cannot stop them. As I said earlier, this someone in Hyderabad is doing all these behind me. I hate it, but am helpless. I just do my work and come back and forget about all the other things. I do not have many friends there. …That was why I came here for a vacation.
Sri: By the way, what about Aditi? How she is doing? Arthi: She is fine! She is doing a couple of films there, one is M.S. Narayana gaari son’s film titled koDuku and another one is the SuperGood films vidyaarthi with Ramesh.
Sri: But, why she is taken off Krissna Vamsi’s film? He said that she couldn’t act and so he replaced her with Charmi? Arthi: That’s absolutely false! See, everybody including Ramyakrishna and Krissna Vamsi sir were present when the photo session and screen test were done. They were happy with the results. She was out of the project because of her own choice. On the second day of the shooting, she was asked to do an obscene scene, and so she voluntarily walked out of the movie, unwilling to do such a scene. She feels bad about not doing a Krissna Vamsi film, but well, she cannot compromise on her values.
Sri: But, after the super success of a movie like gangOtri which revolves around her, she signed a film with a totally newcomer directed by a debutante director (koDuku, directed by M.S. Narayana). Don’t you feel it is a wrong choice? Arthi: Even I worked with the young and new heroes like Uday kiran, Tarun, etc. in my career too…
Sri: They proved their caliber at the box-office before you actually acted opposite them! And those movies were produced by big production houses, and so you had an edge of advantage even though the heroes are young… Arthi: Yes, but she liked the story and her role in the film. Also M.S. Narayana gaaru is a well-educated and talented person. He knows what he is doing and so she signed the film. She is really enjoying doing that film. Also she signed a SuperGood film - that is a well-established and reputed banner too.
Sri: Okay, getting back to your career… I have a question. You are not familiar with Telugu language - do you know what you are talking on the screen? Arthi: Yes, to some extent, I do. I actually get the dialogues translated to Hindi or English before shooting a particular scene and then emote accordingly. I ask for meanings of the words, but I am not sure if I am being told the correct translation, but well, I cannot do anything about that. Now, I learnt some Telugu and can understand the language now.
Sri: Who does your dubbing usually? Arthi: Sunitha usually dubs for me. She is good.
Sri: Any plans of dubbing on your own? Arthi: Yeah, I might (laughs)!
Sri: How about this (Nenuunnanu ) film? Did you like doing it? Arthi: To tell you the truth, the story they told to me was something and the end product was something else! My role was totally chopped off except for a song and dance and I didn’t actually do much on the screen. When I was in Dallas, people also complained the same. I am not happy with the end product. But why bother about what happened? Leave it.
Sri: What about aDavi raamuDu? Arthi: I appear in different shapes in the film (laughs); it took a long time! So you see all those changes in my physique; I cannot help it. But the film is good. Watch that film.
Sri: what are your future plans? Arthi: I just came here now. Let me enjoy the vacation completely, and I’ll go back with new energy (laughs). I have a lot of plans - I may start my own business, or help my father in his business. I like to complete my studies too. I am very young now… I will do one by one (laughs).
Sri: That’s nice to hear! One final question after all this – You come from a normal family, and seem artless and ingenuous in your words. How are you coping with double standards in the film industry? Arthi: I don’t. I do feel a lot bad about it. People in the industry talk something in the front and something else behind us. I don’t have many friends there except professional dealings. This is my home here, and I will come back here, once I complete my job there.
With that our interview came to an end. After the interview she requested to call her for clarifications from now on, before we write anything about her. Mr. Agarwal also clarified that his intervention in her career is not exactly true. He exemplified with a case where he had to talk - when the producer agreed for a certain dress designer and replaced the designer with a lesser known professional in the last minute, Mr. Agarwal said he argued but in vain, but when the same producer asked for dates for a month more, they have given additional dates too! He clarified many accusations pertaining to his role as Arthi’s contact person in the industry. We promised to keep in touch and ended the interview.
It was known during the course of our conversation that she's modeling for Lux, and that makes her the only Telugu Cinema heroine (excluding those like Sreedevi who were in limelight all over Indian Cinema) doing the ad. Also, she's the only Telugu Cinema heroine invited to a prestigious award function in Singapore along with Nagarjuna and Venkatesh. TeluguCinema.Com congratulates her for the attention she's receiving, and wishes Arthi all the success in her future ventures.
Acknowledgements : Jhansi and NaChaKi for their help. © Copyright by Telugucinema.com
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