Keerthy Suresh says Mahanati still defines her identity as an actor

Keerthy Suresh, currently promoting her upcoming film ‘Revolver Rita’, has reflected on how her character of Savitri in the 2018 drama ‘Mahanati’ is shaping her career. At a recent press event, Keerthi addressed the ongoing comparisons between her performance in ‘Mahanati’ and Bhagyashree Borse’s work in ‘Kantha’, saying that she is proud that her performance is still talked about after so many years.

Reflecting on the aftermath of ‘Mahanati’, Keerthy described the challenges of moving on from such an intense role. “After the release of the film, I would walk around in public and it would take a long time for people to recognize me. They would surprisingly ask, ‘Were you the one who played Savitri? You are very young, but you played a mature role on screen.’ Just as it was challenging for me to get out of the character, it took me a long time to get myself out of that character,” he said.

When asked about the identity the film gave her, Keerthi commented, “Even I have not been able to change that identity,” highlighting the indelible mark her performance left on both herself and the audience. He said that no matter how many new opportunities he gets, the benchmark set by ‘Mahanati’ remains important in his career.

When asked how her performance in ‘Mahanati’ compares with the performances of other actors, citing Bhagyashree Borse’s performance in ‘Kantha’ as an example, she said, “That film set a bar, and I am very grateful for that. However, I would also say that it is equally challenging because I have to live up to that or even beat that performance. Looking back, I am surprised that I took up this role at such a young age.” She mentioned that she has been offered many biopic projects since then, but she likes to explore different genres.

His work in ‘Mahanati’ directed by Nag Ashwin received widespread praise and appreciation, including his first National Award at the 66th National Film Awards. The success of the film cemented his reputation in South Indian cinema. Keerthy is now gearing up for the release of ‘Revolver Rita’ starring Radhika Sarathkumar and others and is scheduled to release on November 28.

Meanwhile, Bhagyashree Borse’s performance as Kumari in ‘Kantha’ is currently being discussed by both critics and audiences. Starring Dulquer Salmaan, Samuthirakani and Rana Daggubati, the film is directed by Selvamani Selvaraj and takes inspiration from the life of late actor MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, considered the first superstar of Tamil cinema.