Manjari Phadnis, who moved down south after a teeny-weeny stint in Bollywood with Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, is feeling quite at home here. In fact, after the success of her first Telugu film, Sidhu from Srikakulam opposite Allari Naresh, Manjari is convinced that the grass is greener in Tollywood. With yet another Telugu film, Inkosari, in her kitty already, who’d want to settle down for second lead roles in Bollywood? Calling her journey so far “mind blowing and fun,” she says, “The film industry in the south works differently from Bollywood and you get to learn a lot more here.”She further adds, “South Indians are down to earth, simple and warm, so I am quite comfortable working here. The language was quite a challenge but now I can comprehend Telugu.”Critics may say the bubbly Genelia overshadowed her completely in Jaane Tu, and hence this decision to move to a different industry, but the pretty actress insists, “Bollywood offers came pouring in after Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na but I am selective about my work. I didn’t want to take up just about any project that came my way.”Happy she may be, her sojourn in the south has been one fraught with controversies. Recently, stories of her passionate lip lock with the Tollywood star Nithin in a Tamil flick, Muthirai sent the media into a tizzy. In fact, the actor went to town talking about how Manjari was initially reluctant but later gave in to the “demands of the script”. But Manjari rubbishes it all as a mere publicity stunt, in which she played no part of course! “I was shocked to hear these rumours. I never kissed Nithin. I don’t understand why he had to lie to the media. An article about this even stated that I gave in to the demand of the script. How can a kiss be integral to the script?”Having cleared the confusion, Manjari calms down and recounts her experience of working with Tollywood heroes. “I have worked with Naresh, Raja and Nithin. All of them are different in their own way and I have got to learn something from each one of my co-actors,” says Manjari diplomatically.She may have played the role of a bimbette to perfection in Jaane Tu, but in real life she is quite different from the Meghna that she plays in the movie. Manjari is a student of Shiamak Davar and has also trained in classical music. “I have sung a duet for Muthirai with Nresh Iyer. In future I want to act in musicals, where I can sing for myself,” she adds. But at present it’s comic roles that she is eyeing. “Sridevi has been a huge inspiration. She has an uncanny knack for comedy. I really want to do the kind of comic roles that she did,” reveals Manjari.
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