Veteran actress Meena has opened up about her journey in the film industry, making a striking statement about the actor who, she says, played a defining role in her success.

Reflecting on her decades-long career, Meena revealed that among all her co-stars, it is Venkatesh who holds a special place in her heart.

Having worked with some of the biggest names in Telugu cinema, including Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Balakrishna, Mohan Babu, Rajasekhar and others, Meena delivered several memorable hits.

However, she shared that her pairing with Venkatesh resulted in some of her most successful films, adding that she always felt the most comfortable working with him.

Recalling her early days in the industry, Meena said she was extremely reserved and hardly spoke on film sets. During the time of films like Chanti and Sundarakanda, she described herself as a quiet newcomer trying to find her footing.

She noted that actors like Venkatesh, Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna were calm and supportive, which helped her gradually open up and adapt to the working environment.

Over time, she built strong friendships with her co-stars and even their families.

Talking about Balakrishna, Meena pointed out that he had a different personality on set. She said that even when she stayed quiet, he would take the initiative to start conversations and make her feel at ease.

She also spoke about her first experience working with Mohan Babu in Allari Mogudu (1992). Meena admitted that she initially misunderstood him as being strict or intimidating, largely because she was very young and did not fully understand Telugu at the time.

Later, she realised that his behaviour was playful and warm. She fondly remembered spending time with his children, Lakshmi and Vishnu, playing games like Antakshari and musical chairs during shoots.

Meena further shared that while she has played a variety of roles, she particularly enjoyed doing lively and mischievous characters.

She concluded by saying that her professionalism has been her greatest strength, earning her respect across the industry.