Keerthy Suresh continues to be praised for her performance in the Savitri biopic Mahanati (Nadigaiyar Thilagam in Tamil) even though it’s been nearly a month since its release. Cinematographer of the film, Dani Sanchez Lopez shared a behind-the-scenes story of what it was like on the first day of the shoot. He reminisced how Keerthy went from a person to Savitri garu in seconds!

“I met Keerthy that first day of the shoot. She came into the vintage studio followed by a huge excited crowd that blocked my view. We barely laid eyes on each other, when Nagi called action and bam! She just turned to camera and she completely embodied and personified Mahanati,” he wrote, followed by the first ever picture he took of Keerthy.

This is the first picture I have of #Mahanati. We started a day like today, a year ago. @nagashwin7 and I had been researching and watched a ton of South Indian classics and most of Savitri-garu’s gems. What grand shoes to fit in now by @KeerthyOfficial! pic.twitter.com/JglL3wZyLz

— dani sanchez-lopez (@dancinemaniac) May 31, 2018

Keerthy Suresh was recently felicitated by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu. In her speech, Keerthy thanked the CM and admitted that she was at a loss of words because all this felicitation was overwhelming for her. The team, comprising the filmmaker Nag Ashwin and the producers, were felicitated too. The ceremony was also attended by Savitri’s daughter Vijaya Chamundeshwari, who had helped the team in understanding more things about her late mother. The team went on a success tour recently, with a statue of Savitri doing the rounds.

It was a great moment to share the stage with honourable @ncbn sir. Thank you so much for the overwhelming encouragement and support sir
#Mahanati pic.twitter.com/N5eILfiwlK

— Keerthy Suresh (@KeerthyOfficial) May 26, 2018

The biopic on the late actress Savitri has Dulquer Salmaan play Gemini Ganesan, her co-star and husband. Mahanati also stars Samantha Akkineni and Vijay Deverakonda in key roles – with the former playing a journalist and the latter a photographer accompanying her. Apart from them, the film’s cast also includes Naga Chaitanya, Prakash Raj, Shalini Pandey, Krish, Mohan Babu, and others, with music by Mickey J Meyer.

On the work front, Keerthy has Saamy Square with Chiyaan Vikram in the pipeline. She also has Sandakozhi 2 in the pipeline, starring alongside Vishal Krishna. Directed by N Lingusamy, the film will be a sequel to his 2005 film Sandakozhi.