One of the South’s most popular actresses, not least for her outspoken views, is Lakshmi Rai. Now, she is about to hit Bollywood opposite Himesh Reshammiyah in Hey Gujju. “The role is more in the mould of Kajol’s in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai — a tomboy in the first half and then a demure soft-spoken girl in the other,” she explains, “We have already shot a couple of song sequences and working with Himesh was a nice experience. He is one of the most down-to-earth people I have ever met.” 
Karnataka-born Lakshmi had a big start in her career with Karka Kasadara but then hit a rough patch. “It was a very shaky period. I did work in movies in all four southern languages, but chose some wrong projects. It actually forced me to take a break from the industry and reflect on what I was doing,” she said. She was impressive, however, opposite Mohanlal in Rock n Roll and has a good track record with Mammooty. “I am now banking on Parundu which I am doing with Mammootty wherein I play a character haunted by a bitter past during childhood,” she says, “These roles gave me creative satisfaction when things were not going well in Kollywood.”
Has Lakshmi always wanted to be in the movies? “I never dreamt of becoming an actress. But my participation in school dramas and dances led me into the Padmini School of acting, which initially led me into modeling and later into the film industry.”
