Bangalore, July 14:  Ramya, Rakshitha and Raadhika -- the three Rs in the Kannada film industry.

While the first two are moving away from glamorous roles, Raadhika has not. She is hard to slot though, considering her major successes include sentimental films like Tavarige Baa Tangi and Anna Tangi.

No one can call her a mere glam doll, considering she is a winner of the state government's Best Actress award for her performance in 'Taayi Illada Tabbali'.

Raadhika, is a Mangalorean girl who grew up and studied in Mangalore and later moved to Bangalore for her filmy career.

Today, Raadhika is the hottest star in Sandalwood stardom. She has several hit films to her name.

Leading Indian protal Rediff interviewed her recently and below are the excerpts from her interview:

You play an ultra-modern model in Good Luck and a weepy sister in Anna Tangi. That is quite a range. How do you manage to balance such extremely different roles?

My approach has always been movie-specific. I will always perform to the dictates of the role and instructions of the director. I am a director's actress. When someone asked me whom I would dedicate my state award to, I immediately replied that it should be my director Sai Prakash. He has moulded me as a performer in films like Tavarige Baa Tangi, Anna Tangi, Hettavara Kanasu and, of course, Taayi Illada Tabbali.

You have been criticized for 'exposing' too much in Good Luck.

I didn't expect such a hue and cry. There is nothing in the film to suggest I had exposed more. I was playing a top model; did you expect me to dress in saris and churidars? I had to wear a swimsuit because there was a photo-shoot near the sea. It wasn't my first time in a swimsuit either; I had worn one in Prema Khaidi. If nobody had any objection to my costumes in films like Auto Shankar and Mandya, there should be no objection to Good Luck either.

Would you continue doing such roles in future also? I hear your next film Narasimha with Auditya will also have such 'bold' scenes.

My approach will be to see the product as a whole. My experience in the film industry has taught me that it would be better to trust the director than to look at other things. I have been lucky so far to get films with great directors.

My first film Ninagaagi was a silver jubilee hit and it had a veteran like Mahendar wielding the megaphone. Naganna directed my second film Prema Khaidi, which ran for 100 days. The Tangi series was directed by Sai Prakash, who also directed Rishi. I also had an opportunity to work with other well-known directors like Rajendra Babu and Om Prakash.

About my role in Narasimha, I have to say that it is quite interesting and I will be expected to 'expose' only where situations demand such scenes. I have worked with Om Prakash Rao in Mandya before. There was a fantastic song filmed on Darshan and me, and yes, it was glamorous, but you can't say I exposed. The songs of Narasimha will also be glamorous, but I don't think you can call it just a skin show. 

You have already worked with all the big heroes of the Kannada film industry except Vishnuvardhan, Puneet Raj Kumar and Sudeep. Do you think it is because you are short that you have not signed films with tall heroes like Sudeep?

I don't think so. I have already worked with Darshan -- the tallest hero in the Kannada film industry -- in two films. I had an offer to work with Sudeep in Tirupati, but it didn't materialize. I think opportunities to work with the other heroes will certainly come. I was to work with Vishnu as his sister in Hrudayavanta, but there was a problem with my dates. I am lucky to have worked with such big stars like Ravichandran in Hatavadi, Darshan in Mandya and Upendra in Auto Shankar. I have played Shivaraj Kumar's sister in three films, and all were hits. Now, I am working with Ravi, Uppi and Darshan again.

You have worked in films like Auto Shankar, Mandya and Oda Huttidavalu, which have two heroines. Is it good for a heroine to work in such films?

I don't see any problem. Auto Shankar starred Shilpa Shetty, and Rishi had Sindhu Tolani paired with Shivaraj Kumar. But I was appreciated in both films. Mandya was an out-and-out entertainer in which I worked with Rakshitha. But, as I said earlier, the song featuring Darshan and me was a hit. Now, I am working with Rakshitha in Odahuttidavalu. What is positive about of working in two-heroine films is you become friendly with people like Rakshitha.

You have worked in Tamil and Telugu films too, but don't anymore. Do you think your career in non- Kannada films is almost over?

Who says I am not getting offers in Tamil and Telugu? I have been extremely busy working in big budget Kannada films. I can only take non-Kannada assignments if I am given time to adjust, but they want bulk dates, which I am not in a position to give right now.

Of all the roles you have done so far, which are the ones that have appealed to you most?

In the 20 odd films I have acted in so far, there are a few that have really appealed to me. The modern girl's role in Ninagaagi has been one of my favourites. Then, of course, the sister roles in Shivaraj Kumar's films, the simple middle class girl in Mani and my award-winning role in Taayi Illada Tabbali.

Also see Kannada Glamour from D A I J I W O R L D Archives:

A Konkani Girl in Kannada Filmdom - Maria Ashitha Crasta of Taccode

Hemashree - a Blossoming Film-maker from Mangalore

Interview with Kannada movie artiste TARA

Arona Fernandes - Eyes Set High, but Feet Firmly on the Ground

Sandalwood Romantic Hero Ramesh Speaks

'I don't have any Godfather, but I have God and father separately..' Sandalwood star Sudeep