Actors Keerthy Suresh, Dulquer Salmaan Talk About Making Mahanati

In conversation with actors Keerthy Suresh and Dulquer Salmaan about how Mahanati is an honest portrayal of Savitri.

Dulquer Salman and Keerthi Suresh on the sets of Mahanati.

(Photo Courtesy: Enright PR)

Video Editor: Vikram Vekateswaran
Cameraperson: Smitha TK

Mahanati is a 177-minute-long ode to the superstar Savitri and every actor and technician has done absolute justice to their roles, bringing her back to life.

The biopic’s biggest success story is 25-year-old Keerthy Suresh. The make-up artists, camerapersons, directors, costume designers and the heroine herself have created an impressive portrayal of the screen icon.

Keerthy Suresh was initially reluctant to accept the role, nervous if she would be able to imitate the veteran. She said it was Savitri’s daughter Vijaya Chamundeswari who helped her understand Savitri’s mannerisms and characteristics.

I had to research a lot about her as a person off screen. I went through a book, several movies and spoke to a lot of people. We recreated a few scenes from her movies and so I would watch them. For sure, I wouldn’t watch it entirely but only in bits and pieces because it would scare me as to how I would be able to do it!

Keerthy Suresh, Actor

What makes the movie a stand-out is how it is a naked portrayal of their lives and how a biopic isn’t just about the rosy moments but to show their innate humanness.

Dulquer Salmaan does an absolute brilliant job at showcasing Gemini Ganesan’s personality, his fragile ego and hot temper with maturity.

I don’t speak Telugu but I wanted to do justice to my role especially because it is Gemini Sir and he is so loved by everybody. I didn’t want to mess it up. It is very rare that the movie turns out to be way better than how you heard it in the first place.

Dulquer Salmaan, Actor

Savitri was a girl from coastal Andhra Pradesh who ruled over the celluloid world for years. She was the leading lady, for whose dates even top stars waited in Telugu and Tamil cinema in the 1950s and 1960s.

She had married Gemini Ganesan, knowing fully well that he was already married and was in a relationship with another woman. She had a meteoric rise but the fall was just as quick. She suffered several setbacks in her personal and professional life, and died at the age of 41 because of alcoholism. What played a pivotal role in the relationship is Ganesan’s professional envy at Savitri's success.

The movie flaunts an ambitious cast: Samantha Akkineni as Madhuravani, Vijay Devarakonda as Vijay Anthony, Mohan Babu as the legendary SV Ranga Rao, Krish Jagarlamudi as KV Reddy, Chaitanya Akkineni as Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Avasarla Srinivas as LV Prasad.