Madhoo says Sivagami’s role in Baahubali was destined for friend Ramya Krishnan

Roja actor Madhoo says it’s common for a role to be offered to many actors before an artist is finalised for the project, adds that not Sridevi but her friend Ramya Krishnan was destined to be Sivagami in Baahubali.

Much has been written about actor Sridevi being the first choice for the role of Sivagami Devi in SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali. Reportedly, things didn’t work out with Sridevi, owing to her “starry demands”, and the makers roped in Ramya Krishnan to essay the part. However, Roja actor Madhoo, who is a good friend of Ramya, says that the latter was destined to portray the character. According to Madhoo, it often happens that a role is offered to several actors, and a few refuse it while others get rejected, but in the end what matters is who finally plays the role on screen.

Madhoo plays the role of Maharani Sambhabhja in her debut TV show Aarambh that is being directed by Goldie Behl. (Yogen Shah/HT Photo)

“The role of Sivagami might have been offered to ten other people, but that’s not important. I think the movie had to go to Ramya. She was destined to play Sivagami and look at the way she has performed in the film. When I was making my debut with Phool Aur Kante (1991), I was told that some other actor was supposed to play the part and a few of them have also auditioned for the same. But in the end, I played the role and the film was a hit,” says Madhoo.

Ramya Krishnan as Sivagami in Baahubali.

All praise for Ramya, Madhoo says that she is a brilliant actor who can turn any character interesting. “I am not saying this because she is a friend, but it goes without saying that Ramya is a stupendous actor. Her body of work is a proof of that,” adds Madhoo, who is all set to make her small screen debut with the role of a queen in TV show Aarambh.

Interestingly, there were stories doing rounds that her role on the TV show is similar to that of Sivagami. To this Madhoo says, “When I heard the news, I called up Ramya and we had a good laugh. It feels good when such things happen—your role gets compared to another character that is being played by a close friend. But there is no similarity between the characters.”

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