The actor plays an IPS officer in her OTT debut ‘Puli Meka’, a crime series to be streamed on Zee5 from 24 February.
Telugu actor Lavanya Tripathi will be seen as an IPS officer in 'Puli Meka' web series soon. (/IamLavanyaTripathi/Facebook)
Actor Lavanya Tripathi is in the news for two reasons; for her OTT debut Puli Meka, which will be streamed on Zee5 from 24 February, and for her rumoured impending marriage with actor Varun Tej.
In a freewheeling chat with South First, the actor opened up about her forthcoming web series, her role (a police officer), the OTT space, and the rumoured wedding. Excerpts from the conversation:
Though she was offered several projects during the pandemic, Lavanya said she was not inclined to take them up.
Even before Telugu projects made a splash on the streaming platforms, the actor was binge-watching web series like Sacred Games. “They have great content and quality, and everyone has strong roles,” she pointed out.
Lavanya Tripathi is busy with a slew of projects. (IamLavanyaTripathi/Facebook)
“Since my debut in 2012, I have been doing projects that appealed to me. I was never desperate to take up a movie just for visibility. I didn’t want to run around trees or play a supporting character in my OTT debut,” she revealed the reason behind her delayed OTT appearance.
It’s no secret that heroines have no big span in cinema as we get to see a new face every Friday. Needless to say, this puts immense pressure on them. However, longevity is indeed a noteworthy aspect of Lavanya Tripathi’s career.
“I made it big in Andala Rakshasi and survived this long not because I was just another pretty-looking face. In these 10 years, I did contribute to the industry – be it hit or flop. I’m glad that people did recognise me and my talent,” she said, aware of the industry’s stiff competition.
The actor concurs that all the mainstream actors and stars are in the OTT space because of the visibility which is rare in theatrical releases.
She is also excited that her OTT debut would bring a transition in her career. “I am balancing commercial cinema and substantial roles in OTT,” Lavanya quipped.
The Andala Rakshasi actress stayed away from the media for some time because she has been busy with several projects. “The promotions will begin shortly. But I did hear gossip like ‘Lavanya is finished, she has no projects’. Well, I don’t validate such reports,” she shrugged off.
A poster of ‘Puli Meka’ web series. (ZEE5Telugu/Twitter)
Puli Meka is written by Kota Venkat and directed by Chakravarthy Reddy. It is an interesting thriller with many cliffhangers.
In the story, a killer is on the loose and targets the police officials. Lavanya plays an IPS officer (Kiran Prabha). She forms a team to nab the murderer.
Aadi Sai Kumar, a forensic expert who is good at finding clues, is one of the team members.
The story deals with how the team gives nightmares to the killer and how elusive the latter is. All this makes Puli Meka a gripping binge-watch.
It has a theme song and montage moments, too. Praveen Lakkaraju scored the music.
2 days to go!!
One nail biting chase, the one you just can’t miss!
Get ready for #PuliMekaOnZee5 – RELEASING ON 24 Feb#PuliMeka @iamaadisaikumar @Itslavanya #MukkuAvinash #Suman#Gopurajuramana @RajaChembolu #SaiSrinivas #Sirihanumanth pic.twitter.com/wkpBr7sIuw
— ZEE5 Telugu (@ZEE5Telugu) February 22, 2023
Lavanya Tripathi observed that writing for OTT is different from that of films. “Unlike in movies, the scenes are not lengthy in digital releases. Hence, we shot the eight episodes pretty fast.”
Actor Lavanya Tripathi. (IamLavanyaTripathi/Facebook)
The actor says her character in Puli Meka is close to her heart because it matches her real personality.
“I am a tough person and I have been living alone since I was 17. I am not someone who takes things lying down; I confront people. Even the women in my house are strong — my mom and my sister.”
Guess what? She did a few action sequences in the crime series without a body double.
“I am happy to get this opportunity. The makers must have seen my action scenes in Happy Birthday and thought of giving me an extended role in Puli Meka,” a visibly elated Lavanya remarked.
The 32-year-old also did some research before colouring her hair. “When I asked my sister’s friend – a cop – if they colour their tresses, she nodded and showed me the highlights in her bun,” she said in awe.
In another incident, the actor wasn’t comfortable keeping the revolver behind her back. “So, I asked the makers if I could keep the weapon in my pocket when the operation is on and they agreed to my request,” she recalled.
Telugu actor Lavanya Tripathi. (IamLavanyaTripathi/Facebook)
When asked if the diamond ring she is wearing has been gifted by her co-star Varun Tej, as part of formalising their relationship, Lavanya became furious. She also seems tired of answering this question, several times.
“I buy my diamonds and I bought this ring. As regards the wedding, I will get married when I want to,” she affirmed.
The actress also asserted that she doesn’t like people writing about her personal life.
“Just because I don’t respond to such fabricated reports, it doesn’t mean that whatever they publish is true,” she clarified before signing off.
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