Anu Emmanuel on playing Durga in The Girlfriend: “It gave me immense creative satisfaction”
Actress Anu Emmanuel says working in The Girlfriend was one of the most satisfying experiences of her career. The film, starring Rashmika Mandanna and Dheekshith Shetty, has been winning hearts among both youth and family audiences. Directed by Rahul Ravindran and produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni and Vidya Koppinedi under Geetha Arts and Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment, the film was presented by Allu Aravind.
Speaking about her role, Anu shared, “I first got a call from producer Dheeraj, and then met director Rahul. After listening to the story and my role as Durga, I instantly felt I had to do it. The film carries a beautiful message about women, and it gave me real creative satisfaction. Since it’s a Geetha Arts production, I knew it would be made with great care.”
Anu revealed that she has worked with several top stars like Pawan Kalyan, Allu Arjun, Nani, Naga Chaitanya, Sivakarthikeyan, Karthi, and Vishal, but admitted that not all films gave her fulfillment. “Some commercial movies didn’t make me happy as an artist I just danced or said routine lines. Now I only want to do films that help me grow as an actor. The Girlfriend was one such project.”
Talking about her character, she said, “At first, I was nervous about how people would receive Durga. But Rahul’s direction made a huge difference. He’s very sensitive and guides every actor with care. He told me to act naturally and not exaggerate my expressions, which helped me perform better. I also dubbed for my role with an American accent as suggested by him it made Durga feel more real. Watching the audience clap for my scenes in the theatre was an amazing feeling.”
Anu praised Rashmika Mandanna, saying she never wanted to play Bhooma’s role. “In this film, every character has value it’s not about hero or heroine. To become someone like Durga, you first have to go through struggles like Bhooma’s. That’s what makes the story powerful.”
Reflecting on her career, she said, “I still have more to achieve, but I’m satisfied as an actor. I never chase opportunities; I believe the right ones will find me. I came to Hyderabad straight from the U.S. and have made it my home. I’d love to do a Malayalam film someday if I get a good script.”
On her co-star Dheekshith, she added, “He’s very focused and hardworking. We rehearsed well for all our scenes.”
Concluding, she said, “A film like The Girlfriend needs a passionate producer like Dheeraj. It highlights how society puts too many conditions on women how they should dress, talk, marry, or live while men only face pressure about their jobs. I have a few projects in discussion, and I’ll share details soon.”
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