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Peddha Kapu 1 actress Pragati Srivastava: I like how Srikanth Addala writes his female characters
The actress opens up on her upcoming release, where she’s paired alongside Virat Karrna
Sep 26, 2023
Pragati Srivastava
Pragati Srivastava, who had a key role in Shiva Kandukuri’s action romance Manucharitra recently, pairs up opposite debutant Virat Karrna in director Srikanth’s action drama Peddha Kapu 1, which hits screens on September 29. Ahead of its release, Pragati shares how she almost didn’t enter the film industry, coming on board for the action drama and what she liked about the story.
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“I didn’t plan to enter the industry. I am a law, public policy student and an introvert. We weren’t exposed to films in our household much and even when I got an opportunity to enter the industry, the response was a no. I made a fuss for a couple of days. I told my dad I had signed the contract too. Realising that they didn’t have an option, they asked me to chase my dreams,” the actress says.
The actress, meanwhile, couldn’t afford to neglect her academic pursuits and was a good student in college, which further convinced her parents to say yes to her career choice. “They’re quite thrilled I’m an actress today,” she adds with a glint of pride. After making her debut with Manu Charitra and COVID-19 struck, Pragati returned to Mumbai and took time to sign Peddha Kapu 1.
“I could call this a relaunch of sorts. There was COVID-19 and I had to return to Mumbai later. I auditioned for a role in this film and landed the offer. I really liked Peddha Kapu’s story during Srikanth Addala’s narration. I was hooked to the story and its suspense element. Audiences can expect a gripping film on the big screen,” she mentions.
Pragati insists she plays a crucial role in the action drama and that Aall pivotal characters would drive its story forward. “I have watched Srikanth Addala’s films before and liked how he portrayed his female leads. They’re strong women and my role in Peddha Kapu is no exception. I am happy to be making my babysteps in the industry with a challenging part.”
The actress never thought she could pull off the role of a village belle with ease. “It’s quite relatable and Srikanth Addala deserves credit for the characterisation. The film is a potpourri of emotions. We underwent a workshop before shoot and did our research. The styling was apt and the director was quite clear about what he wanted, how he wished the characters to behave. We had a capable team.”
She labels Virat Karrna a supportive co-star and reveals he has a terrific character arc. “He has come up with a brilliant performance.” Pragati is a big time Samantha fan and adores Taaapsee’s script choices, Trisha’s films too. “If I’ve to name three actors I wish to work with, it shall be Varun Tej, Ram Charan and Prabhas. My next release is Gam Gam Ganesha and I’m listening to other scripts.”
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