“I asked my mother to disconnect her call with Alphonse Puthiran because I thought he was a stalker who wanted to kidnap me.”
One day, when she was browsing Facebook, among random friend requests and messages, she stumbled upon a message from Alphonse Puthiran. “In that message, he said that he was making a film and that he wished to cast me in it. I completely ignored it. The dance shows had happened a long time ago and I was happy doing medicine in Georgia with no intentions of doing movies at all.” The same year, when she came to India on vacation, her mother was on a call with Alphonse Puthiranon the other side. “I was standing next to her when I heard her say his name, and I asked to disconnect the call because I thought he was a stalker who wanted to kidnap me. He obviously heard that and very calmly asked my mother to look him up on Google and then come back to Facebook to confirm his verified account.”
“I asked him whether I should get treated for my skin or cut my hair or start using makeup but he had the role sketched in his mind and did not pay any heed to my anxiety.”
She had 6 months before the shooting for Premam. She headed back to Georgia with the thought that this was too good to be true. “Alphonse isn’t somebody who keeps in touch very often. He messaged me once in 2 months or so. I was happy eating chocolates, sweets and all that I shouldn’t have in order to prevent more pimples. Towards the end of that semester in college, he sent me the script. Just to confirm, I sent back a picture of me so that he knew how I looked. I even asked him whether I should get treated for my skin or cut my hair or start using make upbut he had the role sketched in his mind and did not pay any heed to my anxiety.”
“I am a very emotional person; I tend to empathize with the character.”
Movies have had a lot of impact on her since childhood.‘KannathilMuthamittal’ is an all time favourite. “I think characters stay in our hearts and minds more than the story or the film itself. I love KannathilMuthamittal.I think it was one of the finest performances of Simran, Madhavan and not to forget Keerthana. My mother had to pull me out of the theatres literally. I am a very emotional person; I tend to empathize with the character.”
“Everything that happens, happens for a reason.”
And then to get a film offered by the director of your favourite movie, that is the universe bending its way backwards to give you a signal. But it’s also a sign when it comes to you and is taken away. “Honestly, I never even knew that I was considered for that role.The evening that I was leaving for Georgia, I receive a call from Mani Ratnam Sir and he says that I would be perfect for the role in his next. But after 6 months work on the script, they felt the need for someone different.Everything that happens, happens for a reason.” She believes that it isn’t her time yet, fingers crossed, she hopes for another opportunity to work with the ace director.
“My mom always said that If you have a desire, you must fulfill it in this life otherwise you’ll be born again just for that.”
Alphonse then came to meet SaiPallavi before she was leaving for Georgia. She told him that she didn’t know acting.“I had to play the role of a teacher and my student is in love with me. As soon as my mom heard that, she wasn’t very comfortable with the role. She found it very inappropriate, especially since it was my debut film.” But then Alphonse Puthirandid his magic and convinced her mother by telling her that she would be remembered for her role.“My mom always said that If you have a desire, you must fulfill it in this life otherwise you’ll be born again just for that. She gave me thumbs up on one condition that I was still to continue the medicine.”
“Till the time I have good character oriented roles coming my way, I’m happy to pursue the dream. Otherwise, I will head out to finish my specialization in cardiology.”
SaiPallavi has definitely thought about her future. She is aware of how the industry works, who stays, who leaves and she has happily made peace with it.“Everyone in this industry comes with a limited time span, we all have our moments and we all know when our time would be up. So after my stint in the movies is done, I would like to be remembered for my best. I’m blessed to have medicine to fall back on. Until the time I have good character oriented roles coming my way, I’m happy to pursue the dream. Otherwise, I will head out to finish my specialization in cardiology.”