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Sonia Agarwal gets major role as refugee mom

Sonia starts with the scene of the day's shoot.

“At this point of time, what matters to me is a good hit which will change my fortunes,” remarks Sonia Agarwal who was once a A-Lister actress in Tamil cinema. The actress, known for her power packed performances, went into oblivion due to personal problems in married life. She is back with a renewed vigour with an array of movies including Vishal’s Ayogya, Arun Vijay’s Thadam and a couple of other language films.

Significantly, in Thanimai, a female-centric film, she essays the lead in the role of a mother who is a Sri Lankan refugee in India in search of her long lost child.
DC caught up with her on the sets of Ayogya during a break.

“I am playing doctor in Ayogya. It is the same extended cameo and yet an important one, as I did in the original Telugu titled Temper. It is basically about a sensational murder and being a doctor she is one of those mainly involved who would have done the post-mortem. We are shooting the court sequence today, which is the climax as people await an important judgment,” she says.

Sonia starts with the scene of the day’s shoot. Ayogya has Vishal and Rashi Khanna in the lead and directed by Venkat Mohan. She was all smiles talking about Vishal. “Even though I have only five days of shoot, we all moved like a family. Vishal is a warm person and down to earth.”

On Arun Vijay starrer Thadam, directed by Maghizh Tirumeni where her role is crucial in driving the story, she says, “Magizh is one director who’s creating a style, he is very classy. I was a little apprehensive before signing the project because the character arc was so heavy! She is a girl who goes through a lot of sensitive things in life and how she handles them forms the rest. After I shot my portions, the way he had conceived and extracted the work from me, it was astonishing. I thanked god that I didn’t let it go out of my hands. It is a strong role and I am looking forward to it.”

Sonia anticipates that Thanimai will give her the necessary break. “I am playing the lead. It’s an emotional thriller. It is a poignant tale of a Sri Lankan refugee mother portrayed by me coming in search of her long lost child. Shivaraman, a lawyer who’s passionate about films, is directing it. The film will showcase the nature of men from various walks of life.”

Are you happy with the phase you are in now, with the kind of roles you are being offered? “If you had asked me a few years back I would have said ‘no’. At this point of time it’s fine. Even though I am around here attending functions, parties or award events, many ask me this question - Are you still acting? Perhaps it was because of the backseat that I took in between for three years when I had personal problems. And the ‘marriage tag’ that was an issue with filmmakers at that point of time also marred my career. And I guess, filmmakers are more open now.”

She quickly adds, “I am separated and single today. People are still in that frame of mind. Right now, what matters to me is a good hit, which will change the equation.”

Sonia is also into web series, which seems to be the order of the day. “Yes, I am part of a very big project, which I am not supposed to talk about.”

Is that our former late CM Jayalalithaa’s biopic which Gautham Vasudev Menon? We ask and her reply was only a friendly smile.

The Kadhal Konden actress’ kitty is full with films including one in Kannada with Ravichandran, and a couple of Malayalam flicks.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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