Kamakshi Bhaskarla
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
At the pre-release event of the Telugu film Agadha in Hyderabad, Dr Kamakshi Bhaskarla became emotional as she spoke about playing the central character in a film for the first time. It had taken her nine years to reach this point, she said, thanking the audience for their support. Directed by MS Raju, the thriller releases in theatres on August 14.Settling down for this interview, Kamakshi says she is still a work in progress. “I had to make tough choices in life. There were times when I wanted to give up. But I used the opportunities that came my way to build my career; I had no godfather in the industry.”Kamakshi made her Telugu cinema debut with Priyuralu and went on to act in several web series and films, including the recent Dacoit. The horror-thriller Maa Oori Polimera proved to be a turning point. She is now working on Polimera 3 and the second season of the web series Dhootha. In her early years, she says, she chose some films for visibility and financial independence, while also gravitating towards characters that represented everyday women.“In Agadha, my character Mahadevi is central to the film, and it has taken me a while to reach this space,” she says. Kamakshi is aware that her roles in the Polimera franchise, Virupaksha and now Agadha may lead audiences to associate her with thrillers. “Love stories and thrillers remain the most common genres in Telugu cinema where women get to shine. It would be lovely to see well-written comedies that give female characters ample scope.”Aspiring to write and directShe dreams of writing and directing a feature film and is pursuing an online screenwriting course. “I worked as an assistant director on Polimera and hope to direct someday. I enjoy work that stimulates me emotionally and intellectually.”
