Nabha Natesh plays a bold, domineering character in 'iSmart Shankar'. Directed by Puri Jagannadh and headlined by Ram Pothineni, the film is releasing on July 18.  Catch Nabha in this interview talk about her 'hatke' character, working with Ram and Puri, her upcoming movies and more.  

Attitude is unique 

Only Puri sir can make his heroine a bold character.  I was never so gutsy as shown in the film.  Since the film is set in Hyderabad, the attitude of the characters is different.  What you have seen in the trailer is just a tip of the iceberg.  

I learned the lines by heart

My character's name is Chandini.  I learned my lines by heart.  The Assistant Directors helped me a great deal to learn the lines.  I made sure that I knew the meaning of my lines.  I have not dubbed my voice because the slang had to be authentic.  It's Telangana language and the actors have to be convincing.  If not, it would look bad.

A bit of me in Chandini

I used to be mischievous as a college-goer.  At times, my dad would receive complaints about me.  That beat in me shows itself in Chandini!

I don't have scenes in combination with Nidhhi Agerwal, although there is a song featuring us.  We haven't danced together, though.  But the promotional tours have made us good friends.  

Love-hate-love story

Both Shankar (played by Ram) and Chandini are domineering.  They share a love-hate relationship.  I like him but I don't like him.  The nature of the romance between us is wacky.  Puri sir's style is like that.  His heroines are little soft always but this one is totally different.  The romance, overall, is cute.  I haven't done a lip-lock in the movie. 

That's why she is arrogant

My character is very important in the story.  Chandini is a civil engineer.  She works with male colleagues and is therefore always tough.  She deals with goondas.  She is not a rowdy, she is a professional.  I don't have fights in the movie.  I only slap the hero a few times.  It was scary to slap Ram.  Puri sir and Ram asked me to slap him with force.  It was tough but I had to do it for effect!  Both Shankar and Chandini are tough and they behave that way.  There is no other reason.  It's a trait.  

Ram is passionate

Ram is a really good actor.  By the time I met him for the first time, he had already got into the skin of the character.  He is so dedicated and passionate.  Even off screen, he would be seen talking like Shankar.  In one of the scenes, I have a long monologue, I was too nervous to shoot for it.  Ram asked me to chill out and comforted me saying that small mistakes can be managed at the Edit table.  

A different genre

'iSmart Shankar' is a sci-fi, mass potboiler.  It's a new genre that we have tried.  The word Smart in the title denotes the chip that is sneaked into Shankar's brain (as shown in the trailer).  Sci-fi movies are always classy movies.  But this one is set against the backdrop of Hyderabad, and the characters are "massy".  

Each scene involving me and Ram is completely unique.  Each scene is better than the other.  Both are on high energy always.  

Upcoming movies 

I am doing 'Disco Raja' with Ravi Teja sir.  A few other movies are in the pipeline.  I was shooting for 'iSmart Shankar' till last week.  So, I had no time to sign up for new movies.  I am also in discussions for a Tamil movie.