‘Finances went for a toss’: Keerthy Suresh on six-month career break after ‘Mahanati’
Keerthy Suresh’s National Award-winning performance in ‘Mahanati’ was expected to be a career-defining breakthrough. While the 2018 biopic earned her widespread recognition, the actor’s next chapter did not unfold as anticipated. Instead of a steady stream of offers, she found herself without work for six months, a period that affected her finances but gave her time to reassess her career and personal priorities.
In a conversation with News18, Keerthy opened up about the unexpected lull, explaining that filmmakers struggled to envision her in roles after she portrayed legendary actor Savitri in the Nag Ashwin-directed film. The recognition had changed their perception of her, making it difficult to cast her in the kind of roles she had previously played.
“It’s very funny. I believe that I wasn’t getting film offers because people were confused about where to place me,” she said, adding that filmmakers understood they needed to bring her more substantial roles after ‘Mahanati’.
While the lack of work initially gave her a welcome break from years of consecutive shoots, the financial consequences soon became apparent. “In a way, I was happy until I realised that my financial stability was going for a toss,” the actor recalled.
However, Keerthy did not view the six-month period as wasted time. Having spent much of her early career working on commercial films, she began reconsidering the kinds of characters she wanted to portray.
Before ‘Mahanati’, she explained, her roles often involved playing the girl-next-door, with limited screen time and relatively little scope for performance. The biopic changed that trajectory, prompting her to focus more on substantial, performance-oriented parts.
The break also became an opportunity to prioritise her health. Keerthy revealed that between 2013 and 2018, her routine revolved around shooting, eating and sleeping, with little room for exercise. She began working out for the first time during the career pause and gradually experimented with her personal style.
The actor has previously spoken about facing body-shaming comments both before and after her physical transformation. In an Instagram post in May, she addressed criticism of her appearance and clarified that her transformation came through hard work rather than surgery. She also stressed that her decision to become healthier was not driven by a desire to look a certain way.
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Looking back, Keerthy said the experience taught her important lessons about herself and financial management. Despite the professional uncertainty, she has no regrets about stepping away from work during that period.
“If you ask me if I regretted not working those six months, the answer is no,” she said, reflecting on how the time helped her grow beyond her career.
Keerthy will next be seen in ‘Akka’, alongside Radhika Apte.