Kochi: Actress Aaradhya Devi (formerly Sreelakshmi Satheesh), who gained social media fame through a viral photo shoot in Kerala, is set to make her acting debut with the film Saaree.

Directed by Giri Krishna Kamal, 'Saaree' tells the story of an intense obsession a young man feels toward a saree-clad woman, which later turns dangerous. The tagline of the film is "Too much love can be scary."

Speaking at a press meet in Kochi during the promotions for Saaree, Aaradhya discussed her character and addressed her previous comments on not taking up glamorous roles.

"I have no regret what I said back then because it reflected my emotions and thoughts at that moment. My circumstances were different, and I truly believed that I wouldn't take up glamour roles. However, I now realize that versatility in roles is what fuels an actor’s craft," she stated.

In Saaree, Aaradhya plays a simple girl-next-door character. However, in the villain's imagination, her character appears as a "sexy girl," which necessitates some glamorous sequences in the film. 

"That does not change my perspective. Today, glamour has multiple interpretations, and it is more about emotions than just clothing," she explained.

Aaradhya also addressed the trolls she faced for her past remarks, emphasizing that she stands by her younger self and does not blame her for those views. "The 22-year-old me had a different mindset. I am open to playing diverse roles in the future."

Speaking about changing her name, Aaradhya revealed that she was never fond of her original name Sreelakshmi. "There were always multiple girls named Sreelakshmi in my school. I wanted a unique identity. When I got this opportunity, I thought, why not change my name? My parents and Ram Gopal Varma suggested a few options, and I chose Aaradhya."

Reflecting on her debut film experience, she described working with Ram Gopal Varma as a significant learning experience. "This is my first film, and I learned a lot. I was never into modelling. He discovered me after seeing a video I made during my postgraduate studies. Acting has always been my passion, but coming from a regular family, I never thought I would get this opportunity."