Deepika Rangaraju, the newsreader turned actress, debuted with an unusual role of a gravedigger with the film Aaradi. Directed by Santhoshkumar, the film takes its inspiration from young girl Sathya who works as a gravedigger in Salem.
Speaking to DC of her experiences working in Aaradi, Deepika said, “I started as a newsreader and then acted in a few soaps. When director Santhosh approached me with this challenging script, I felt I should not miss the opportunity. When there are still restrictions on women entering a graveyard, my parents were dead against me acting as a gravedigger. They are superstitious and as if to stress their belief, my mom fell sick even as I started shooting for the film.”
After a pause she adds, “After crossing several hurdles, I finally joined the crew at Salem. Though we planned to shoot in real locations, it was next to impossible to get permission. Hence, the producer put up a huge set of a graveyard and shot most part of the film there. I was finding it difficult in scenes where tasks of digging huge pits to burry dead bodies were shot.”
Talking about the story of Aaradi, she says, “In the film my father plays a gravedigger. An accident sees my father lose his limbs and my brother dead. When I am forced to perform the last rites for my brother I decide to take my father’s job in my hand with my sister’s help. How her life takes a turn with the entry of a guy in her love life forms the rest.” Choosing a quirky role and steering clear from clichéd heroine characters has paid her rich rewards. The film has been nominated for national awards.
