Sparkling effect

She danced her way into the hearts of youth with `Intiloki welcome antu getu teesinadu mastaru...' She's chirpy, bubbly and earnest too. Having traversed across continents before settling down for a film career that spans over Bollywood and Tollywood apart from forays into Kannada and Tamil films, Sakshi Sivanand is the quintessential star -- all set to carve a niche for herself in the tinsel town. The Kannadiga gal got her big break through Telugu films and she is naturally indebted for that. Having acted with the likes of Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna, Sakshi has a following of her own. This was evident the manner in which she was mobbed by home guards (almost everyone wanted to be photographed with her) when she came to the city to participate in an AIDS awareness camp held here recently. In between signing autographs and posing for photographs, T. LALITH SINGH, chats up with her. Some excerpts:

MEET

SAKSHI SIVANAND

IF DAZZLING good looks and a positive attitude are the attributes of a successful heroine, Sakshi Sivanand has ample amounts of them. Being a head turner, film roles fell into her lap without she even trying them. "I was crossing the road to reach my college in Mumbai when a car screeched in front of me. A guy got out and asked whether I was interested in acting. I was confused...but then, as destiny would have it, that marked the beginning of my journey into films," she recalls.

And there has been no looking back after the release of `Collector Garu' opposite Mohan Babu. The string of successes that followed included `Master' (with Chiranjeevi), `Seeta Rama Raju', (Nagarjuna), `Snehithulu', `Yuvaraju', `Maa Pelliki Randi,' and Krishna Vamsi's `Samudram'. "Telugu films have been my first priority," promises the star who is presently acting with Vijaykanth in a Tamil film apart from a bilingual historical movie, `Amrapali', being made in English and Hindi.

As it happens to all stars who made their name in the north as well as south, Sakshi is in a dilemma. "Hindi film producers insist I give up movies from South. But, tell me can I ignore the industry which gave me so much," she asks. Ask about her pre- filmi days and the impish grin is back. Believe it or not, Sakshi went to 21 schools and colleges spread over three countries -- Nigeria, the United States and India. "I was pampered a lot," she laughs as she recounts her adventures at a boarding school in Bangalore.

"I ran away from the boarding school only to find the police close on my heels to catch and take me back," she remembers, rolling her eyes. A la a tomboy, ain't it? No wonder, her roles invariably show her effervescent self.

There have not been many releases in recent times. Is it a lean patch or has she become suddenly choosy? "Yes, I have become selective about the roles I portray. I took a decision to portray only one or two good characters every year. Nothing more and nothing less," she affirms.

What's on personal front? Does she have a shining knight hidden somewhere? "Please don't ask me all that. I am still very young for marriage. Don't you think so," blushes Sakshi. Yehi right choice baby, aha!!!

``I have become selective about the roles. Nothing more and nothing less.''

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