Thirteen years later she was seen in the Telugu film Na iishtam Co-integrated Rana Daggubati, Genelia Deshmukh returns to the familiar area with Telugu-Kanada bilingual film JuniorReleased on 18 July. Director Radhakrishna Reddy’s film in which Kiriti Reddy and Mr. Leela were starring, Genelia was introduced a lot before being signed for Aamir Khan. Sitare land crossGenelia says, “It felt like homecoming, returning to Hyderabad and shooting. It’s here that I fell in love with acting and cinema.”
He is on the terms of Hyderabad as home away from home. “I feel comfortable with the people here. I have a lot of friendship – whether it is Ram, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, or director Raghavendra Rao and Vinayak sir who hosted me at home for lunch. When people open your homes for you, friendship lasts longer.”
Genelia Deshmukh | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Anyone who has interacted with him in the early 2000s will recall wide -eyed enthusiasm and heat, with whom he interacted with those who had crossed their path. He debuted in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi cinema in 2003 Satyam, BoysAnd I swear you Respectively. I swear youHindi remake of Telugu Hit Nuvwe KavaliLarge scale was filmed in Hyderabad. On this set, she met Ritish Deshmukh with whom she went on a date and finally got married.
Edited excerpt from conversation:
You were very young when you debuted in cinema. Did you understand the vastness of that change in your life?
Cinema chose me, instead of another way. I did an advertisement film, was seen outside my college and selected for a film. I came in a candy store like a curious child. I always have this nervous energy that taught me. I did not know the language of the film, there was no idea what ‘cut’, ‘tech’ or ‘retake’ means.
Did the craft appreciate slowly?
Yes. Initially I did not understand that I had to get up at 4 in the morning and had my makeup and hair. I did not have a makeup artist or vanity van. As I grew up, a team grew with me. I have changed clothes in buses or behind a black cloth. While shooting abroad, I have also knocked people’s doors and asked if I can use the toilet in their homes. All this was difficult but I have no complaints. It was good to go through that drill as a newcomer. As I started working more as I started working more, and the audience and the film industry accepted me, I also fell in love with cinema.
You will also hear the statement of the story in the favorite language of the writer/director. How did his statement resonate with you, seeing that you were not familiar with Telugu or Tamil?
I am not a language person, but I pay attention and listen to understand feelings. Some people will explain to make me feel comfortable in English. I will tell them that they can narrate in their favorite language and I will get a vibe. I also tried to learn my lines in Telugu and Tamil. For example, I learned two pages of dialogue for a scene BoomriluI liked it in this way. I will never take a shortcut to say 1,2,3,4,5 for lip movements.
You worked in Shankar Boys And done together Satyam In Telugu, a relatively short film that also did well. Did you decide or did you have someone who could be a sounding board?
I decided, mostly. If I had lost, I would turn to the ritual. People did not know that we were dating. He had a better understanding of cinema. I will mainly credit directors and manufacturers for casting such different characters and audiences for casting me. I have worked with stars and new people and respected my work. Even today, I do not like to use the word ‘fans’. I like best wishes or audience. We are all lovers of cinema. A hit film is usually remembered for one or two years. Seventeen years later BoomriluPeople still remember me as Hasini. Or Jaane tu ya jaane na se aditiI thank my stars for those opportunities.
Genelia, Kiriti Reddy and Mr. Leela in ‘Junior’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
You were also receptive for different types of films …
I have always chosen more quality than quantity. after Boomrilu Became a blockbuster, people expected me to sign some 500 films and earn a lot of money. I chose Jane tu or jane na Because I liked my character, Aditi. I started with scratches in Hindi. Again, I did not have a makeup artist or a van and eventually I moved and made everything. At the risk of pompous, I can say that I have a cult film in every language. I was more mature as an actor while working Jane tuThanks to the experience of Telugu and Tamil cinema, when I did I swear you,
Later there was also a risk of typist in chirpi varnas BoomriluLater you picked up Uromo In Malayalam and Story, Mr. Medvi In Telugu which were different.
I also won a Nandi Award StoryWhich I did not expect. I tried to strengthen myself again and enjoyed the journey to be a part of various films.
What have you done Junior after all these years?
I have a bucket list of characters I want to portray and this character of a boss woman is one of them. This is a drama between a father and son (V Ravichandran and Kiriti), and I play a strong character. I cannot reveal more. When Radhakrishna told the story, I wondered that he chose me. At that time, I was at home, not looking for work or audition. I have never done a dual language film and loved the process of filming in both Telugu and Kannada. I have a full, well etched-e-grown character. It is very difficult for women actors to get such characters.
Aamir Khan, Genelia and Ritish Deshmukh participate in the screening of ‘Sitare Zameen Paar’: Sujit Jaiswal/AFP
After working 15–16 hours a day for many years, you took a rest for a decade. Do you have symptoms withdrawal despite enjoying a new phase of life with marriage and maternity?
I loved and still loved acting, but fame … not so much. There are times when I have worked for 20 hours on a stretch. Today I can work for 10 hours. I stepped back from acting but I became an entrepreneur and a manufacturer, made mistakes and learned. That experience helped me portray my character Junior Without seeing caricaturish without it. Up to Sitare land crossI could understand the feelings of my character – a wife who wants a child, marital quarrels and egos … life experiences can enrich the depiction of such characters.
Was it strong to see the reception for your work Sitare…,
I was touched when people said that they had missed me on seeing me on the big screen. This was my distance, more than praise. To feel strong, I do not seek external verification. I think it is important to be calm and safe. Insecurity can reflect on on-screen performance.
You have signed a film with Emraan Hashmi. What else is in the pipeline?
The film with Imran is an action entertainer. I will film with Manoj Bajpayee for Ram Gopal Varma’s horror comedy in Hyderabad. Talks for some more films continue.
Published – July 17, 2025 03:38 PM IST
