Exclusive! Varsha Bollamma on Meet Cute: Deepthi Ganta was so full of life and gave us great freedom

Varsha Bollamma may have shot to fame with 96 and Bigil in Tamil cinema, but it’s the Telugu industry that opened her to newer horizons and put her worth to test. With warm, feel-good outings like Middle Class Melodies, Jaanu and Swathimuthyam, she’s a household name here and audiences relate to her on-screen persona immensely.

Her career is set to take a new direction with her first-ever web show, Meet Cute, a five-part anthology, directed by newcomer Deepthi Ganta, now streaming on SonyLIV. In a chat with OTTplay.com, Varsha shares her views on the digital medium, the ‘Meet Cute’ experience and why she doesn’t let the commerce of her films affect her beyond a point.

Her view of OTT as a medium

I’ve heard people say it’s the next big thing and I experienced it first-hand after the digital release of Middle Class Melodies. The kind of reach that the movie had was unbelievable. We thought it’ll reach the Telugu audience and get the love it deserves but it reached several other States in India - my friends from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu told me they’d watched it.

I am not sure if this would’ve been the same had the film released only in Telugu because COVID-19 was still around and people were reluctant to hit theatres. For unique content and fresh stories, OTT is the go-to medium. You can either spend lavishly on the project or work on a shoestring budget - the story is what matters ultimately.

If OTTs help give a second chance for a film to flourish, especially when they don’t work at theatres

I still believe if a film is good, it’ll work in theatres as well as OTT, I strongly feel that. The theatrical experience is something else and OTT is slightly more personal, you can watch it in the comfort of your home with your near and dear at the time of your choice. I want my work to flourish on both mediums and go hand-in-hand.

I can’t deny that OTT gives a second chance to cinema - while films like Jaanu, Swathimuthyam got good reviews, they clicked better when they arrived on OTT. Different genres have different priorities among audiences. For instance, I may prefer to watch Middle Class Melodies at my home but something like a Soorarai Pottru would’ve given me a great theatrical high.

Of course, OTT is a great bet for those who have a new viewpoint but may not have a big producer/distributor to ensure a good release or think that their product may not reach many audiences in theatres.

The vibe on the set of Deepthi Ganta’s Meet Cute

I’ve worked with a female director before and the comfort you get there is different, you crave it. The very first day, I realised Deepthi had great clarity about her work and how to extract the work out of her artistes. It’s ultimately her story and work becomes easier when someone knows what they’re doing. There was great freedom and she was so full of life, I was thoroughly impressed.

Beyond Meet Cute, dealing with strangers

When I’m entering a room full of strangers and I need to socialise, I am very awkward, I want to run away and I don’t like talking to them. Hate is an understatement (laughs). However, maybe somewhere outside on the street where there’s no pressure to strike up a conversation, I wouldn’t mind talking to people and knowing them. There’s a lot of innocence when you talk to somebody you don’t know; there’s a sense of liberation. I love these interactions where I click images for people, you aren’t friends but bond for that moment. I find that very cute and innocent.

Isn’t socialising an integral dimension in a profession like acting?

I’ve always had relatives and friends who’ve told me I’m in the wrong profession. It isn’t for the socialising aspect alone but I also don’t like getting ready, dressing up and showing up at events. I believe that ultimately what you do on the screen matters more. It takes me to my next project and that’s what people see. I still try my best to avoid socialising. We can even play board games but no talking, please!

What would Meet Cute mean to a viewer?

These are stories that’ll be close to your heart. These aren’t the films where there’s running, chasing or heavy drama. Most viewers might have experienced some emotions in the movie, they’re something very personal. You’ll have to sit down and watch it with an open heart and an open mind. It’s a story that you’ll think about later. I think it’ll be a cute watch if you have the patience to understand somebody else’s story.

Her takeaway from Meet Cute and her segment ‘Meet the Boy’

Sometimes, when you least expect certain things to happen and they do, such incidents surprise you. It’s about simple things that put a smile on your face and a story that tugs at your heartstrings. A lot of girls may even wonder if something like this is possible.

Shooting for brief segments in an anthology unlike a feature film

It’s wonderful that you finish shooting for a project in one go. Usually, when you’re filming for multiple projects, you hop on from one set to another and deal with different characters. The difficulty is more for the director and the writer to extract the best out of their actors in a limited timeframe and get what they want.

On why anthologies haven’t grown on audiences yet in South Indian cinema

Many anthologies haven’t been made in South Indian cinema yet, you can count them on your fingers. I think audiences haven’t embraced the fact that 30 minutes may be enough to tell a story. It’s not something they’re used to. People are used to short films but they tend to watch an anthology like a regular film and the concept is yet to sink in.

Looking forward to coming out of my comfort zone

After Middle Class Melodies, Meet Cute and Swathimuthyam, people have a perception that Varsha is a girl next door and look for Sandhya or Bhagyalakshmi in every character I do. I am just looking forward to coming out of that mould.

If someone judges you by the commercial worth of your films?

It’s not their fault and they’re only discussing the market value of a project. When they’re putting so much money into a film, they would obviously want to be careful and that’s how it works. Just because I believe I am a good performer, I can’t term that unfair and need to deal with it. I just have to keep doing my work. I know where they’re coming from and I know my worth too; no ill feelings there.