In Tollywood where Telugu girls are hard to find , Laxmi Manchu, daughter of actor Mohanbabu has made her mark. Theatre personaility, TV Show host , producer and now an actress, Laxmi Manchu is a woman who is surely as versatile as her father is. Her debut film 'Anaganaga Oo Dheerudu' a bi-lingual Walt Disney production in which she plays evil queen character named 'Irendri', is up for release next month. On Saturday when the trailers of the movie were screened for a select few film personalities in the city, there were introduced to a powerful performer hidden all these years in Laxmi. She says she is happy to have done a negative shade charecter, something her dad also started off with.

"I told the Prakash Kovelamudi the director of this film, that I will be happy the day parents threaten their children to show them 'Irendri's picture if they don't have their food. I put my blood and sweat on this film in the last one year. Movies are all about charecters and I am blessed to have got this role.My dad started off with villain charecters in films.I was waiting for a good role and this happened to be that.Whenever I had doubt in the dialogue modulation, I called my dad and he would write it down and call me back in 20 minutes to explain the diction, draw a line at places and pauses for me. I hope the movie is successful enough for audience to call me 'Irendri' after watching me in it"

Laxmi reveals that she watched Disney films like Narnia and 101 Dalmatians to get the feel of the movie before she played her charecter. Though she has done stage and TV shows in US and back in the city, she confesses that this movie makes her nervous as being the daughter of Mohanbabu, audience start judging and drawing comparisions.

"I worked with Oscar winning actors in Hollywood when I was in Los Angles.But I never felt so nervous as I am feeling now. This is my hometown and the industry where my dad and brothers mad it big. There will be judgements and comparisions drawn between them and me. I hope I make my dad proud. I watched a few Walt Disney films like Chronicles of Narnia to observe the negative charecters and added my touch to it. It took three hours to get the make up done every day and the costumes were so heavy. I underwent a lot of hardships doing this 'evil queen' charecter and when I saw the trailers, all the pain vanished " she says with eyes filled with excitement.

Though many star sons enter the film industry, star daughters don't act in movies at all. Ask her if her debut will inspire daughters too to get into films?" I really hope so. Superstar Krishna's daughter Manjula and Supriya from Akkineni family did movies but they faced a dark side of a few not wanting them to act. I respect the fact that they still did movies and they did pave the way for me to debut today and I hope it would inspire more to enter the industry"

"I am also frustrated with the fact that Telugu girls don't enter the film industry . I don't know why. Half the job is done for producers like me, if I find a Telugu girl to do a role in the film" she adds.

A studnent of theatre and acting from US, Laxmi is of the opinion that it is high time Tollywood starts making movies for 'entertainment' and not second guessing what audience and fans want.

"I grew up watching fights and dances and love our movies the way they are. But I think we should start making movies keeping 'entertainment' in mind and not the fans. We need to add different genres of movies in Telugu. Most actors seem to be second guessing what their fans want. How will they know if they accept it or not unless they try.?'

Laxmi is gearing up for the second season of her talk show 'Prema Tho Mee Laxmi' in a regional TV now. She is brining in politicians on her show this time as against actors in the first season. Quizz her why she wants politicians on her show now?

"I wanted to make the show different from the previous ones. It is not about their political campaigns or ideologies. It is about their will power, strength and greatness as human beings. I have interviewed a lot of actors in the first season so included politiicians this time. The show will soon go on air" Manchu quips.

This producer turned actress who made 'Jhummandi Nadham' recently with her younger brother Manchu Manoj in the lead is gearing up to produce another movie titled 'Ookodathara Ullikkipadthara' with him. Rumours are rife that she is soon going to act in a Bollywood.

"I will let out the details of Bollywood plans once it is finalised.For now, it is Christmas and holiday season coming up and I am all set to celebrate my year of work" Laxmi signs off.