‘Girl behind the camera was his heroine; he couldn’t digest that’: Suhasini on learning experience with Chiranjeevi

During an engaging session at IFFI 2025 titled The Luminary Icons: Creative Bonds and Fierce Performances with Khushboo Sundar, veteran actor Suhasini Maniratnam shared candid reflections on her experiences working with Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi, revealing the mix of intimidation and learning she encountered on film sets. She explained that being on large sets like Vijaya Vauhini could be overwhelming, especially for someone starting out. “Film sets can be quite intimidating. There’s this hush that falls over everyone, and suddenly you’re unsure of what to do. You can freeze up. I was initially a cinematographer and had no acting training, so I learned everything gradually, on the job,” she said, recalling her early days in the industry.

Suhasini recounted a specific scene in which she played a minor, comical role in a Telugu film. “I was standing behind a chair, giving reactions without saying anything,” she shared, highlighting the challenge of making a scene work as a silent performer. It was during such moments that Chiranjeevi helped shape her approach. Suhasini revealed that the megastar corrected her perspective on her role, emphasizing her importance in the scene. “He suddenly looked at me and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘Acting,’ and he replied, ‘You’re the heroine of this film, not a junior artist.’ In commercial cinema, junior artists are often trained just to react, but he wanted me to perform as the lead,” she explained, illustrating how he instilled confidence and taught her to approach scenes with the mindset of a principal actor.

She also shared a lighter anecdote demonstrating Chiranjeevi’s recognition of her growth from behind-the-scenes to leading lady. During her first Telugu film, she was tasked with creating a rangoli while Chiranjeevi observed. He remembered her as a camera assistant from a previous project and could barely accept that the same girl was now his heroine. “I gradually noticed him watching and realized, ‘Oh, he’s seeing me.’ He had known me as someone handling the reflector earlier, and now I was the lead. It was hard for him to digest at first,” she recounted, showing the unique dynamics of mentorship and respect in the film industry.

Suhasini also recalled a playful moment where she reminded Chiranjeevi of her acting lineage, noting that she is superstar Kamal Haasan’s niece and that her skills shouldn’t be underestimated. “During rehearsal, he told me, ‘You can’t just look at me abruptly; you have to look at me casually and deliver your line.’ In reply, I reminded him, ‘Don’t forget, I’m Kamal Haasan’s niece—I grew up around actors,’” she shared. “I performed the scene naturally, eventually earning his praise,” she added.

Through these anecdotes, Suhasini conveyed how working with a legendary actor like Chiranjeevi combined both intimidation and learning. She highlighted the growth, confidence, and technical insight she gained—from mastering reactions on massive sets to embracing the responsibilities of leading roles. Her stories offered the audience an intimate glimpse into the mentorship, discipline, and playful guidance that shaped her early acting career alongside one of Telugu cinema’s most iconic stars. (With inputs from Agencies)