Chandini Tamilarasan came into the limelight when K. Bhagayraj chose her for Siddhu + 2, alongside of his son Shanthnu. The film was an average grosser and much was expected from her subsequent film Naan Raajavaga Pogiren, which also didn’t fare well at the box office either. Chandini migrated to Tollywood, where the industry welcomed her with open arms. After a hiatus, the pretty girl is back in Tamil with a vengeance and her kitty is full with seven flicks under big banners. She says it is very important to be part of a successful film, and talks about whether being a Tamilian is hindering her growth in Tamil cinema, and how her large expressive eyes fetched her two heroine-centric horror films, in an exclusive to DC.
“I don’t know whether being a Tamil speaking girl is a plus or minus in Kollywood, but, by now I realised that I have to be part of successful films to stay in the industry”, she begins her conversation. She adds, “When I was introduced by Bhagyaraj sir many people said, ‘I was the next girl in K’town’. No matter how you look or how you perform, unless the film is a hit, you will not get noticed. My second venture also did not fare as I expected”.
It was her Tollywood debut Kaali Charan, a political drama, a box office hit, which stabilised her position in T’town. Having completed half a dozen flicks there including her recent horror movie Chitram Bhalare Vichitram, Chandini returns to Tamil with two movies Vil Ambu and Naiyapudai, which are hitting the screens back-to-back. I play a roadside idli seller Kanakavalli in Vil Ambu in a deglam avatar. She is bold and independent and it was a very challenging role for me”, Chandini quips. In fact, though the producer of the movie Suseendhran was happy with Chandini, the dusky girl was still auditioned for the role before she came on board. “Susee sir was very happy with my audition and he remarked that I was the apt choice for the vital character.” Chandini is also being considered for an upcoming Suseendhran film, with a big hero.
When the topic shifts to glamour, which is high in Telugu films, she says that when you want to be in the commercial league, there’s nothing wrong with being glamorous. “People say I look homely. I don’t want to be typecast, so people will say that Chandini is suitable only for homely roles. A good amount of glamour, which is comfortable for me, is okay. Like in the case of Naiyapudai where a song has been shot on Pa Vijay sir and me sensuously. All said and done, too much of skin show is not my cup of tea.”
Apparently, her large emotive eyes are fetching good heroine-oriented offers. “Thanks to my big eyes! I am doing a film Thaami, which is a horror genre. I play the lead with Arjun of Masala Padam essaying the male lead.” Chandini has also been roped in for Dollar Desam which is being produced by Ameer, Kannula Kaasa Kaattappa directed by Major Gautham and Pallaandu Vaazhga directed by Anjana of Veppam fame. A bilingual, Pallaandu….is a rom-com with Rahul Ravindhran in the lead and T’town star Nani playing a powerful cameo.
