In an industry where you can go from glam to thank-you-goodbye-ma’am in no time, Trisha has evolved into an actress of substance having completed no less than 35 South films including the critically acclaimed Abiyum Naanun and Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya.

It’s no small achievement and brimming with confidence, today, she’s armed with her big ticket to Bollywood, Khatta Meetha, opposite Akshay Kumar, directed by Priyadarshan.
“I just went and signed Khatta Meetha without any questions since the offer came from my mentor Priyan sir,” she says over the phone with DC from Monte Carlo where she is currently shooting for the upcoming film Manmadhan Ambu with Kamal Haasan.
She then refutes claims made that she allowed a ‘discount’ since it was a Hindi film. “That is not true! I just wanted to do the film for my guru. There was also a rumour that I cut down my fees for the chance to team up with Kamal sir. I always demand only what I deserve. It is not the money that decides a project, but the subject. It should inspire me,” she clarifies, adding, “I am lucky to get an unconventional role for my debut. It’s not the typical heroine falling for the hero, run around trees for duets. I play a Municipal Commissioner who is an idealistic person. The role was something new which I’ve never ever attempted.”
And romance? “Of course there is a romantic angle in the script. Akshay is a road contractor; there is a flashback episode which reveals an old college love affair and the circumstances due to which we split. We have a love-hate relationship throughout. It’s a nice story laced with Priyan’s characteristic humour.” Despite being fluent in the language, Trisha did not dub for her Hindi debut. “I play a classic Maharashtrian girl named Ganthule and Priyan wanted the typical Marathi accent without the South Indian mix. To my surprise, they found a dubbing artiste whose voice is exactly like mine.”
You can hear her smile when asked about her team-up with Kamal Haasan. “I missed out on the opportunity of working with Kamal sir twice, in Dasavatharam and Marma Yogi. This time he wanted me to play the exceptional role opposite to him, I did not let it go. I was tutored in all aspects of acting before we started shooting.”
Meanwhile, Trisha’s popularity with an audience of young corporate women has soared after VTV. “Thanks to Gautham Menon who gave me the role of a new age girl Jessie,” she says, “After VTV, you won’t believe it, but my mail box is overcrowded with queries about Jessie’s saris. I hadn’t modelled for any sari ads so far but VTV’s impact has brought me a lot of sari commercials.” But she’d endorse a cause for free, says this queen bee of the South, “Like PETA’s ‘adopt a street dog’ which is really close to my heart, I would support any genuine cause irrespective of my busy schedule.”
And what of rumours that there will soon be a Hindi remake of VTV and a role opposite Prateik Babbar under Gautham’s direction? “Hmmm, talks are on with Gautham but I’d rather not speak about something which I am yet to sign.” And will Bollywood usurp Tollywood in her life? “Not really! Now that there are huge expectations from the audience, I have to be choosy with my flicks, I have reached the stage where I needn’t be in a hurry to sign a slew of films. I will pick projects that suit my image irrespective of the language.”