Janhvi Kapoor reflects on her challenging role in Peddi, where she stepped outside her comfort zone, delivered a Telugu monologue to a cheering crowd, and began building her own legacy of dedication, inspired by her mother Sridevi.
Janhvi Kapoor has opened up about her experience working on the Telugu film Peddi, describing how she stepped outside her comfort zone, memorized Telugu lines, and earned a spontaneous round of applause from the crowd on set. In a recent interview, she also spoke about trusting director Buchi Babu Sana and how her mother Sridevi's work ethic continues to inspire her.
Trusting the Director
Janhvi Kapoor emphasized that she fully trusted director Buchi Babu Sana, who made his directorial debut with the National Award-winning Uppena (2021). When asked about creative control, she said, "The director obviously gets the final word because he is the one that says cut. And especially when it is a director like Buchi Babu Sana, who has a track record of making such amazing rooted work like Uppena."
Performing in Telugu
One of the most memorable moments for Janhvi was delivering a monologue in Telugu, a language she does not speak natively. She recalled, "When I delivered my monologue, everyone in the crowd started clapping because I think even they were surprised that I mugged up the lines and performed it. So that was a very tangible visual validation." The scene involved addressing a large crowd, a departure from her previous roles.
Building Her Own Legacy
Janhvi also reflected on growing up hearing stories of her mother Sridevi's dedication, such as shooting a rain song with a 104-degree fever or dancing until her feet bled. Now, she is collecting her own stories. "I've collected some such stories of myself now that I'll be happy to pass on to my kids," she said, marking a shift from living up to her mother's legacy to building her own.
Key Points
- Janhvi Kapoor trusted director Buchi Babu Sana due to his track record with Uppena.
- She memorized and delivered a Telugu monologue, earning applause from the crowd.
- Her role in Peddi is a significant departure from her previous characters.
- She is now building her own stories of dedication, inspired by her mother Sridevi.
- Peddi released on June 4 and stars Ram Charan, Shivarajkumar, and others.
Janhvi also shared that her entry scene in Peddi was a moment of self-doubt. "I was so nervous, as it was a departure from all the characters that I played. I was like, will I be able to pull it off? But when I see the scene now, I think it is pretty cool," she said. The film, set in 1980s rural Andhra Pradesh, tells the story of a spirited villager who unites his community through sports.