"When You Don't Get Overnight Success, You Value It More", Says Rakul Preet Singh

One of the most popular actress of Bollywood and South Indian cinema Rakul Preet Singh is trying to make her professional career stable in Bollywood as well as in the regional, South cinemas. Rakul Preet is now all set for her upcoming release Manmadhudu 2.

However, success didn't come this easy for the actress. The stunner made her Bollywood debut with Yaariyan and went on to do Aiyaary opposite Siddharth Malhotra and her latest release, De De Pyaar De managed to create a huge buzz.

Rakul has always managed to create a good balance between South and Bollywood.

Rakul, in a recent interview, spoke to a daily spoke about how she dealt with not getting success overnight. She said, "I started at the age of 18. For me, it’s been a long, but a good journey. The good part is that a film like DDPD came to me at a time when I could understand its emotional complexities. I don't think I would have been ready to play a part like this in 2014 when I did Yaariyan and moved to Telugu cinema. I understood the business by being a part of it;

I had no one who could explain things or show me the way. There was a time when I went for meetings in sports-shoes; that changed with time. When you don’t get success overnight, you value it more, you stay grounded and work hard to sustain it. My first Telugu film opened many doors for me. I thought I might as well do the work coming my way than leave it and chase what’s evading me."

Rakul Preet Singh shared that working in her upcoming rom-com Manmadhudu 2 was like being part of a big family as she has been with the film's unit for several months.

"Nag sir, Lakshmi garu, Jhansi, DD (Devadarshini) and the entire team bonded like an extended family. It was a lot of fun to work because everyone was chilled out and easy going. We used to talk with each other between the shots and Rahul (Ravindran) would alert us when the shot is ready. We became so close to each other that all of us had withdrawal symptoms on the final day of the shoot,” gushes Rakul. 

Working with Nagarjuna, Rakul Preet Singh said, "Nag sir is a very supportive co-star. I would say that he is so secure as an actor that he took a backstep allowing others to shine in certain scenes. He was not worried about his short dialogues or heroism. I think that only comes when you are secure of who you are. As a person, he is one of the nicest people. My respect for him has grown manifolds".

Talking about her character, "I play Avantika in Manmadhudu 2. She is a fun character, full of life, and lives in the moment. But, she also had a difficult past. She is also mature. It’s a very layered character which is something that I enjoyed a lot while playing it. This character gave me the scope to perform. My character is as important as Nagarjuna sir’s character Shyam. This character came to me at the right time as I was looking for nuanced characters".

Rakul shoots down any similarities between these films and says, "The age difference is the only common point between these films. Otherwise, they are different. In Manmadhudu 2, I play a character named Avantika, who is 25 years younger to Nagarjuna sir and this unusual pairing is what the script demanded. Both of these characters have equal importance.”

Elaborating on her character, she adds, “Avantika is full of life and there are multiple layers to her. She is feisty, mature and has been through a lot in life. I have gone for a certain makeover and sported red hair. It's a role that's on par with Nagarjuna, who plays Sam. I have been longing to play such character and It was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed every day of the shoot,” shares the actor.

Rakul feels working with senior actors is not a peculiar trend in Telugu cinema and urges people to change mindsets. “When I was offered films, opposite senior heroes, I will see that my character had a space that was significant in the film and doesn't think about the age difference and other aspects. Instead of playing a character that has been reduced to a caricature in a young actor’s film, why not take up a substantial role alongside a senior hero?” quips the actor.

Rakul shares a special bond with director Rahul Ravindran and says she has signed on this film after she fell in love with her character.

"Rahul is my rakhi brother (bade bhaiyya). We know each other from Venkatadri Express days. He sent the script a month before the shoot and it helped me to get a grip on my character. His planning and production are meticulous and which is why we have managed to complete the shoot in less working days,” reveals the Dhruva girl.

Meanwhile, Rakul's upcoming film Manmadhudu 2 is all set to release on August 9th. Also starring Samantha Akkineni and Keerthy Suresh in a cameo, the family entertainer has been directed by Rahul Ravindran.