Lakshmi Manchu’s upcoming TV show is titled Memu Saitham, where celebrities have worked for a cause. The show will see celebs like Mohan Babu, Rana Daggubati, Rakul Preet, Regina Cassandra, Nani, Akhil Akkineni, Shriya, Lavanya Tripathi and others working for one day in menial jobs like a labourer, an autorickshaw driver, mechanic, sales girl, vegetable vendor etc.
Says Lakshmi, “I had this idea for the last two years but I didn’t know how to go about it. It was during that time that Shruti Shinde, my father’s friend Susheel Kumar Shinde’s daughter, called me. She wanted to do a show down South as she had done a few television shows and one of them was Mission Sapne.” But, Lakshmi says, “For the Hindi show, many Bollywood actors come forward as it was for a social cause, but when it came to Tollywood, I struggled to bring the stars together.” She, however, adds that many actresses came forward despite their busy schedules.
“The celebrities worked for a day and earned some money and also helped out the families personally. Mohan Babu worked as a server to help a poor family, Rana worked as labourer to save a labourer’s family, Nani worked as mechanic for a poor mechanic’s family, Regina was a sales girl, Rakul was a vegetable vendor,” says Lakshmi, adding that Rakul also gave Rs 2 lakh to a family.
But the shoot for the show wasn’t easy. “When we were shooting we came across some people with fake stories, too, and we had to stop shooting. We got so many applications and we scrutinised all of them. We checked their background, went to their villages, enquired and finally got the families who needed immediate help. But there were a few who tried to fool us,” says Lakshmi.
Despite all the setbacks, she says that the show was more satisfying than her films and other TV shows. “This is not about what celebrities are doing for a show. It’s more than that. We are giving hope, life and showing a new way to families. As individuals, we may not be able to help the country, state, or our village, but at least we can help a person. This show is emotional, inspiring and personally gratifying for me. If the big actors come forward, it will reach many more people,” she says.
