Second time lucky - Actress Sunaina

There is a certain aura that surrounds Sunaina. She is refreshing, excited as a kid and can give you a run for money when it comes to girlie banter. With her latest film Maasilamani, opposite her Kadhalil Vizhunthaen pair Nakul, raking in the moolah at the box-office, the new pin-up girl in town has all the reasons to be happy.“I consider myself lucky,” starts off the chirpy actress with a big smile, “I’m glad that I made the right choice. I was confident that these films would become hits.”But if you believe that this pretty lass will settle for a candyfloss role, then you are mistaken. She says that she is doubly careful when it comes to work. “I’ve been a stage performer and I like to act, emote and express. I don’t want to just run around trees. I want to do justice to my passion to act and that’s the reason I’m here,” she explains.Quiz her if she is willing to take the glam route and she immediately shoots back, “The audience has always perceived me as a cute girl and like me in deglam mode. I don’t want to upset them. But if there is a real need for glamour in the script, then I don’t mind doing it.”Revealing details about her upcoming flick Yathumaagi, Sunaina says, “I play a village belle called Annam who loves to live in a dream world. How she falls in love with a city-bred guy (played by debutant Sachin) forms the crux the story. It is a heart-warming tale of opposites, and for the first time, you can see me in paavadai dhaavani on-screen,” she giggles.“I have also completed 60 per cent of Kathirvel with Ajmal. It is a nice film which has given me adequate scope for expression and dialogues. It’s a story about a small town guy who travels to the city and falls in love with a girl. The challenges that he faces is all the story is about.”Coming from a non-filmi background, is handling stardom a challenge for the 20-year-old? “Right from my first film, I’ve constantly been in the news for some reason or the other. For instance, I opted out of Jai Akash’s film long time ago, but rumours are still doing the rounds that I’m acting in it. Then, there are reports linking me with Akash and Sachin. Let me make it clear that my relationship with my co-stars is strictly professional. I’ve struggled to reach this position, and I just want to concentrate on my work and studies.” The actress also rubbishes rumours that cupid has struck with her two-time on-screen pair Nakul. “All those who were associated with my first film are special to me. I’ve worked with Nakul in Kadhalil Vizhunthaen and Maasilamani and he is a good friend. We share a certain comfort level as we have worked together twice. We faced hardships together and shared the fruit of success. There’s nothing more than that.”Despite having two hits and two more geared for release, the petite actress has her feet firmly on the ground. “Expectations are high. But I never think about hits or flops. I just want to enjoy what I’m doing and want people to recognise me as an actress of substance.” (S U N A I N A S P E A K) Sunaina may not have done many films in Tamil, but the actress has a great liking for the city. “ I find Chennai the best place to live in. Chennai is like my home now. People here are warm and loving. In fact, these days I prefer to be in Chennai than in Hyderabad.” Guess what Sunaina’s fitness mantra is? “I don’t believe much in hitting the treadmill. I jog everyday and that keeps me full of beans the entire day. When I am upset or stressed, I meditate.This keeps me going.”