Small, but significant strides

CHENNAI: After making her Tamil debut with the 2017 action thriller, Enbathettu, Upasana RC has gained the attention of the audience as Dr Fathima in SA Chandrasekar’s Traffic Ramasamy. Recalling how she landed the role, the former Miss India Asia says, “SAC sir saw some dance footage of me performing in the talent round of the beauty pageant and a few ads of mine, and felt that I would fit the role. I got a call from him for a look test and within a few days I was on board for the project.”

The actor, who played a real-life supporter of Traffic Ramasamy, says that the age of the character was altered to show that youngsters are also supportive of his causes and protests. “The character I played in the film is actually a forty-year-old woman in reality, but the director designed it as a girl in her twenties in order to connect with the youth,” she says, adding, “Though I didn’t get a chance to meet Ms Fathima, I did a lot of research to prepare myself for the role.”

About the experience of acting alongside the veteran director, she says, “I was in awe of SAC sir’s energy at the shooting spot. Even during the days when we shot from dawn till dusk, he would never get tired and remain enthusiastic till the pack up. There was a sequence in the film which involved SAC sir running. Whenever the shot was called he would run at full speed and reach the final point before the cameraman. After several unsuccessful takes, the crew had to ask him to slow down his pace to match the movement of the camera. His energy level is mindblowing and so inspiring.” She also reveals that the director-actor wanted to give her a solo classical dance number in the film, but it was scrapped at the last moment.

Upasana has already begun shooting for her next, Karuthukalai Padhivu Sei, directed by Rahul Paramahamsa of Jithan 2 fame.”As you can guess from the title, the film is based on social media awareness. It’s a female-centric film and the entire plot revolves around my character. The film talks in depth about the downside of social media and the outcomes of being addicted to it. SSR’s (yesteryear actor SS Rajendran) grandson Aaryan plays the male lead and we have already finished shooting the first schedule of the film.”