Meenakshi Chaudhary plays the female lead in Dulquer Salmaan's Lucky Baskhar which hits the screens on October 31, 2024. Meenakshi talks about her key role, working with the likes of Dulquer Salmaan, career choices, and bagging big films in Telugu. Excerpts:

Were you upset that your character was cut short in Guntur Kaaram?

Well, I was a bit disappointed but don’t want to discuss what happened behind the scenes. The film gave me more exposure in the Telugu industry, and a section of the audience got to know about me. So, I’m taking it in a very positive way.

How did you get this role?

After the release of Major, I received several opportunities, one of them from Sithara Entertainments. The moment I heard the script, I loved my role because it had so much scope and screen time to showcase my talent. When I found out that Dulquer was playing the lead, I had no second thoughts and signed the film right away.

Tell us more about your character in Lucky Baskhar.

I play Sumathi, a mother. The film shows me in two different age groups, which gave me a lot of scope to perform. I play Dulquer Salmaan’s wife, who is a central conflict in the story as she stands between the hero and his money, which the film revolves around. Anyone who has been waiting to see me in a full-fledged role will be thrilled.

You’re a young model. How challenging was it to portray a middle-class housewife?

I come from a very middle-class background; my mom is a housewife, so I grew up in a conservative environment. When I was asked to play Sumathi, a simple middle-class woman, I connected with the role immediately, and the emotions flowed naturally. Coming from a small village as the only one to pursue a career in media, I understand the mindset of middle-class women and incorporated that into my performance.

How was it like working with Dulquer Salmaan?

Dulquer is a sweetheart. When I found out he was doing the film, I was thrilled because he’s a superb actor, and when he takes on a project, it’s special. I worked closely with him and attended several workshops to get our characters just right. We have some very emotional scenes together and share great chemistry on-screen. I hope everyone will love our pairing.

Did you ever imagine you’d become so famous in the South in such a short time?

Acting wasn’t on my radar initially; I wanted to be a model, but acting happened by chance. Luck has played a part in my career, as I landed big films by being in the right place at the right time. I’m thrilled to be acting alongside major stars at this stage of my career.

Future projects?

I have Mechanic Rocky and Matka, which will hit the screens in November 2024. Then there’s the Venkatesh starrer, which I’m really excited about. I’m also in talks for two big projects in Telugu, which I’ll announce soon. For now, I’m eagerly awaiting the audience’s response to my performance in Lucky Baskhar.

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