Southern siege

A host of Southern stars are poised for a grand Bollywood entry. Subhash K Jha checks them out as he takes us on a star trek
Trisha Krishnan Past I Done 45 films in Tamil and Telugu and considered one of the top names in the South for both glamour and histrionics. Present I All set for a Hindi debut opposite Akshay Kumar in Priyadarshan’s Khatta Meetha. Strength I Speaks Hindi well and exudes super-confidence on screen.Very focused and yes, has an Amma to guide her. Weakness I Trisha’s already a veteran by Bollywood standards and may therefore lack a freshness of appeal. Verdict I “I’ve worked with Trisha in her South Indian films, and she’s fantastic. Contrary to rumours she speaks Hindi quite well. She’s glamorous and talented,” says Priyadarshan. Adds Akshay Kumar, “Trisha is very focussed on her work. Will go places.”
Rana Daggubati Past I Made a whopping debut in Telugu as an idealistic chief minister in Leader. Present I Has been lapped up by Rohan Sippy for the much talked-about Goan drug busting drama Dum Maro Dum opposite Bipasha Basu. Strength I Adrenaline-pumping, energetic and intense, Daggubati comes from a distinguished film empire in Telugu cinema. His grandfather is the illustrious producer D Rama Naidu. But he wants to make it on his own. And yes, he knows perfect Hindi. Weakness I Rana plays a Goan musician in Dum Maro Dum. How Goan can an Andhra guy look? The role was offered to Farhan Akhtar and Emraan Hashmi. Both turned it down. Verdict I Says Bipasha, “I didn’t know who Rana was at first. But now I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Sudeep Past I A big name in Kannada cinema, he has worked his way up from scratch. And has changed the loud and aggressive pitch of performing in regional cinema. Present I Sudeep made a grand impact in Ram Gopal Varma’s Rann. He’ll now be seen in Ram Gopal Varma’s Phoonk 2. Strength I Tall and athletic, Sudeep fits into the anti-hero mould. The nervous energy is just what the audience likes to see. Weakness I At the moment, only Ram Gopal Varma seems interested in Sudeep. Verdict I Says Ram Gopal Varma, “Sudeep created a cutting edge in the narrative. I will cast him again”.
Neha Sharma Past I Made her successful debut in Telugu cinema with Chiranjeevi’s son Ram Charan in Chirutha. Present I Will make her Hindi debut in Mohit Suri’s Crook opposite Emraan Hashmi. Strength I She’s relatively fresh and quite the girl on the roll. The Bhatts, who produce Crook, have in the past invented or re-invented the careers of several leading ladies, including Mallika Sherawat. Weakness I Neha Sharma sounds so North Indian, audiences will think she’s from Kanpur rather than Hyderabad. Verdict I Says the film’s director Mohit Suri, “I saw Neha in her Telugu film and immediately contacted her.”
Siddharth Past I An impressive lineup of Tamil-Telugu superhits, Siddharth is known as the thinking girl’s sex symbol. Present I After a talked-about debut in Rang De Basanti, Sid woke up again a good two years later with an impressive, rounded performance in Striker. Now, he’s here to stay. Strength I With the discipline and drive of Aamir Khan, Siddharth can hold a close-up better than many in Bollywood. And he promises a six-pack on demand. Weakness I Which South Indian hero has really made it big in Bollywood? Verdict I Says Sid, “With due respect, how many from Bollywood have made it big in the South?” Says Striker director Chandan Arora, “Sid has a smouldering no-nonsense personality. He appeals to Gen-X and their mothers.”
Padmapriya Past I 50 films in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Present: Recently made her debut in Hindi films with Chandan Arora’s Striker. Strength I Has a raw, unspoilt quality. Critics in Mumbai have compared her with Tabu. She’s no sex symbol, but a true-blue actress. And, being brought up in Delhi, can speak fluent Hindi. Weakness I Over-exposed in South Indian films, she’s a veteran already. Also, lacks oomph. Verdict I Says her co-star Siddharth, “The minute Padmapriya walked onto the set she was transformed into the fisherwoman that she was playing. She even started eating raw fish. This girl is a powerhouse performer.”
Lekha Washington Past I Born and brought up in Chennai, where she has done 5-6 films. Present I Will make her debut opposite Rajeev Khandelwal in Peter Gaya Kaam Se. Strength I A qualified filmmaker, she has done a limited number of films so far. As far as ‘exposure’ is concerned, Lekha happily plays the Goan bikini beach babe in her Hindi debut. Weakness I Her Hindi debut is a small film. Besides, just being willing to expose for the camera is not good enough. Can Lekha act? Verdict I Says her co-star Rajeev Khandelwal, “Lekha is very professional. There’s no fuss on the sets and she’s very camera-friendly.”
Suriya Past I A roster of blockbusters in Tamil and Telugu, including the original version of Ghajini. Present I All set to make his Hindi debut in Ram Gopal Varma’s Rakta Charitra. Strength I Very versatile. A boy-next-door who can become Rambo-Ghajini if required. Weakness I At 34, it’s a bit late for a Bollywood debut. He also seems indifferent, “I won’t let my career in the South suffer.” Verdict I Says his producer, “We wanted a toughie with a romantic face. He could be the next Sanjay Dutt.”
Vikram Past I Tamil superstar, iconic in his territory. Present: Makes his belated Hindi debut as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s husband in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan. Strength I Vikram is an all-rounder. He sings, produces and acts too! Weakness I At 43, Vikram is a little overage for a Hindi debut. Verdict I Says Ram Gopal Varma, “He is dynamite on screen.” Co-star Abhishek Bachchan vouches for his talent.