Many new actresses in Tollywood these days are famous because they are “lookalikes” of big stars.
Reshma of 'Eerojullo' looks like Trisha, Poorna of 'Seema Tapakai' resembles Asin and then there was the famous Sneha Ullal, the poor man’s Aishwarya Rai.
Then, there’s Madhurima Banerjee, who many claim, looks like Kareena Kapoor in a few pictures and like Soha Ali Khan in others.
Earlier the trend used to be for actors to have lookalikes and they used to be used as body doubles and stand-ins.
When 'Ramudu Bheemudu' was made nearly five decades back, in which late NTR had a double role, actor Kaikala Satyanarayana was used as his body double. Satyanarayana later became a popular actor in Telugu cinema.
Another actor Rajkumar, is a dead ringer for Chiranjeevi and he imitates Chiranjeevi’s actions too.
Coming back to the heroines, Reshma is often mistaken for Trisha during outdoor shootings, and it is the same case with Malayali actress Poorna who resembles Asin.
“Though it’s not a big plus point, there’s nothing negative about it. If I would dress like her or imitate her actions then it would be negative, but I don’t do that. Sometimes people come up and tell me that I look like Asin. Thank God people never say that I act like Asin,” says Poorna.
The directors too, don’t find ‘looking similar’ a problem.
“Kamana Jethmalani made her debut with my film 'Premikulu'. While shooting I introduced her to Chiranjeevi, who was shooting nearby. He immediately commented that she looked like a younger Sridevi. There are a few actresses who look like yesteryear actresses. But that’s neither positive nor negative,” says director B. Jaya.
However, at times this does help the actresses. “Yes, I got two films because I look like Asin,” says Poorna. “At an audio launch, Tamil actor Vijay commented that I looked like Asin,” she adds. “But I like Asin. She is a very beautiful girl and she is everywhere… she has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi films. She is a very good actress,” says Poorna and adds in a lighter vein that she is a fatter version of the star.
Reshma also says that there’s nothing to read in being a lookalike. “People do compare me with Trisha. It’s a common thing, but when it comes to the profession it comes down to the individual. I have to prove my talent. I will take inspiration from Trisha and want to become one of the top actresses. Once I get a few films, I will get my own image,” says Reshma.
Both Poorna and Asin are from Kerala but they have never met. “I have met so many actors and actresses. I have even met Salman Khan, but surprisingly I didn’t get a chance to meet Asin.
“I have even met Shriya Saran. She came to me and told me that ‘somewhere you look like me’,” says Poorna.
