Veteran actress Suhasini Maniratnam recently shared an anecdote about an early career experience with megastar Chiranjeevi that left her feeling intimidated. Speaking at the IFFI 2025 session titled "The Luminary Icons: Creative Bonds and Fierce Performances" on November 21st with Khushboo Sundar, Suhasini recounted the incident, highlighting the challenges she faced as a budding actress transitioning from behind the camera.
Suhasini, who is the wife of acclaimed director Mani Ratnam and niece of actor Kamal Haasan, has worked with Chiranjeevi in several films, including "Manchu Pallaki" (1982), "Kirathakudu" (1986), and "Aradhana" (1987). She recalled feeling overwhelmed on a large film set, describing the intimidating atmosphere of the Vijaya Vauhini studio where silence and unfamiliarity led to paralysis. "One thing that intimidates me is the typical film set, the Vijaya Vauhini set. It was scary, because they say silence and everybody goes silent, you don't know what to do. You kind of forget and you become paralysed," she shared.
Adding to her discomfort, Suhasini was transitioning from cinematography to acting and felt she was learning on the job. In a Telugu film where she played a comical maid, Chiranjeevi questioned her acting choices during a rehearsal. He remarked that she couldn't simply look at him abruptly and say something, suggesting she needed a more casual approach.
Suhasini revealed that Chiranjeevi had known her as a camera assistant in a previous film and couldn't initially accept her as his heroine. She then responded to Chiranjeevi's advice by reminding him of her family background, saying, "I am Kamal Haasan's niece, you forgot that? I grew up with an actor in my house". She stated that she performed the scene naturally, which led Chiranjeevi to exclaim "Donga Pilla", which translates to "thief," implying she knew her job well. She explained this was his delayed reaction and a compliment.
Suhasini humorously noted that Chiranjeevi's initial perception of her as a camera person who used to hold reflectors for him made it difficult for him to accept her as the female lead. She emphasized that her acting skills shouldn't be underestimated due to her being Kamal Haasan's niece and growing up around acting.
Earlier this year, Suhasini spoke about other challenges she has faced, including her battle with tuberculosis and the stigma surrounding the illness. She revealed that she kept her diagnosis a secret and took medication for six months, which motivated her to work for the community and raise awareness about TB.
Suhasini also shared an incident from her college days when her uncle, Kamal Haasan, would drop her off wearing only his underpants and a karate top. She would beg him to wear pants, but he refused to get out of the car, causing her much embarrassment.
Suhasini Maniratnam's career spans across various South Indian film industries, where she has worked as an actress, director, and screenwriter. She made her Kannada debut in 1983 with K. Balachander's "Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu," where she faced challenges due to the language barrier. During the same IFFI 2025 session, she recounted needing 29 takes to deliver a difficult dialogue in the film.
