Oct 11, 2026 6:00pm IST
Ahilya Bamroo on Working With The Late Singeetham Srinivasa Rao: ‘He Inspired Me To Never Stop Evolving As An Actor’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Ahilya Bamroo counts it as a privilege to have worked with the legendary director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao in his last film, “Sing Geetham.” In an exclusive interview with Variety India, she shares her experiences and memories of working with the late director.
Looking back at working in “Sing Geetham,” how do you recall the experience?
I remember it with much love and tenderness. The entire project was a groundbreaking one, which is what a Singeetham Srinivasa Rao film is all about. I remember each day being a joyous experience because it was a musical, a different form and we were experimenting and learning so much.
What was your biggest learning on set?
To always think outside the box. His approach to filmmaking and his incredible filmography always made me think that you have to take the chances no one else is taking and tell the stories that no one else is telling. To continuously challenge myself and always have fun, that was a big learning from Singeetham sir. He literally said that “if you are not having fun making a film, you are not making a film.” And that was a beautiful way of looking at filmmaking and acting.
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When did you meet Singeetham Srinivasa Rao for the first and last time?
We had spoken the very day I received news about the project. I was based in Chennai, so we got on a video call. He was super funny and joyous and had very nice things to say about the character Gauri. He gave me a brief narration on what he had in mind for the character, and it was the first time I got to see him. Later, we had a prep phase where I workshopped with him via video-conferencing, where I would do a scene and he would give me feedback. Then I would get on a call with him to understand my character. When I met him in person, we went over to his house, and it was wonderful. He was exactly how he comes across with a great sense of humor.
Any anecdotes you can share about him?
If someone suggested we do a scene in a particular way because that was the trend, he would say ‘We are not making a movie that everyone else is making, so why approach it that way?” He was constantly trying new things throughout his life. It has inspired me to never stop evolving as an actor.
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