BANGALORE BORN, Belgaum brought up Lakshmi Rai is all set for a Bollywood debut.
In Allahabad, busy shooting for her maiden Hindi venture, 'Doshi', the South Indian actress takes some time out for HT Allahabad Live to share her obsession for her work.
"I have been modelling and dancing from my high school days and to be an actress was my dream," says the winner of Miss Belgaum' title for 2 years.
Talented that she is, getting a break into South Indian movie was not tough for her. "My portfolio got me the first break when RV Udaykumar who was searching for a new face for his film chanced upon it. I was offered 'Karka Kasadara' and since then there has been no looking back," says Rai, a veteran of over a dozen South Indian movies.
A student of Padmini Kolhapuri Institute of Acting, facing camera for first time was no big deal for her. "Seriously, it wasn't tough. Acting has been a passion and it comes naturally to me," reveals Rai.
Unlike peers from Bollywood, for Lakshmi big names like Shahrukh, Salman and Amir are not in the list of favourites. "They all are good actors and I admire their work. But keep me out of picking the favourite game," she pleads while admitting that her preferences keep changing from time to time.
She, however, has special liking for directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Subhash Ghai.
In Doshi, the acclaimed beauty is playing a homely and mature woman. Cast against 'Tum Bin' fame Priyansha, Lakshmi has great expectation from the movie. "Produced by Laxmi Narain and directed by Arshad Khan, the film is expected to come out real good and I am sure to go places with this debut," she says.
On the stay in Allahabad, Lakshmi describes the visit as real good. "People here are just fascinated with films. The craze you get to see here is Allahabad's exclusive," she says who is also liking the climate of Allahabad. "Nights are good but days are really horrible but I am liking the place," she adds.
{{/usCountry}}On the stay in Allahabad, Lakshmi describes the visit as real good. "People here are just fascinated with films. The craze you get to see here is Allahabad's exclusive," she says who is also liking the climate of Allahabad. "Nights are good but days are really horrible but I am liking the place," she adds.
{{/usCountry}}On future plans, tall and beautiful babe, who earlier wanted to grab the numero uno slot in Tollywood (South Indian movies) now wants to concentrate only on acting. "I am open to all kinds of good roles and want to be remembered as an actress," she says.