Exclusive: Suriya and Jyothika are like film encyclopedia, says Flora Saini
Model and actress Flora Saini, who has acted with the likes of Rajinikanth, Vijaykanth, Prabhu, Vidya Balan, Venkatesh and Jagapati Babu, is in a happy space. Her performance in the recently-released Begum Jaan has earned her appreciation and has put her in a great space.
Tracing her journey in films, Flora says, “It has been more than 15 years in this industry and I completely love the energy and vibes that I’m getting. With the kind of films I’m being offered, I am content with my work. When I was in Kolkata during my teenage years, my mother asked me to take part in a pageant organised by a club. I was disinterested and since I was fat, and had zero experience, I couldn’t qualify for the next round. I kind of grew up with people saying that I was not pretty. When I started attending these shows, I slowly gained confidence and I began to concentrate more on fitness. Later, I moved to Delhi where I enrolled in an acting course. That’s where it all started.”
Her second film in Telugu, Chala Bagundi, fetched her recognition and four years later, she stepped foot into the Tamil industry with Vijaykanth’s Gajendra. “It was great to share screen space with Vijaykanth. Though I had very little chance to interact with him, he was helpful and kind. I wanted to do a lot of Tamil films as the filmmakers write sensible scripts,” she explains.
Speaking about the actors she admires in K’town, Flora says, “I am a big fan of Suriya and Jyothika and they’re like film encyclopedia! I’d look up to them for every possible reaction. Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Revathy and Prabhu are the other actors I would love to work with. South Indian actors are disciplined and Bollywood people need to learn from them. It is also commendable to see Nadigar Sangam working towards the welfare of the artists. Though my growth in the industry has been slow, many actors who started with me don’t work anymore. So, I am kind of happy and content with what I am today,” she says, as she bids adieu.
