Laya on Her Comeback with Nithiin's 'Thammudu': "The Perfect Movie... It Presents a Unique Kind of Brother-Sister Sentiment"
Following the phenomenal success of Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, Sri Venkateswara Creations is gearing up for another promising release with 'Thammudu,' starring Nithiin. Produced by Dil Raju and Shirish, and directed by Sriram Venu, the film also features Varsha Bollamma and Sapthami Gowda in key roles. Notably, actress Laya is making her highly anticipated return to Tollywood through this project. As 'Thammudu' prepares for its grand worldwide theatrical release on July 4th, Laya shared her experiences portraying the character of Jhansi Kiranmayee and shed light on various aspects of the film.
Laya recounted how the opportunity for her comeback arose. "I came to India in February 2023 and gave a few interviews to YouTube channels. After watching those interviews, the 'Thammudu' movie team contacted me in June. When I sent them a few photos, they felt I didn’t quite fit the character and asked for a new photoshoot. After I sent the new pictures, I was selected. By then, I already knew the story of 'Thammudu' and felt it was the right film for my re-entry," she explained. "They told me the character needed to look a bit heavier, so I gained weight by eating sweets. I stayed in India for several months for the shoot."
Describing her role, Laya stated, "I play Jhansi Kiranmayee, an officer who is strict and responsible, balancing her family life with her professional duties. I play the sister of the hero, Nithiin." She highlighted the challenges of shooting: "We shot many scenes in the forest, and someone or the other would get hurt daily. People often say a film shoot feels like a picnic, but for us, it was far from it - we had to work hard. But everyone was united and gave it their all, happy with how well the film was shaping up. No one took breaks or left the set. We worked with total dedication."
Laya praised her co-star Nithiin: "Working with Nithiin was a joy. Even though he’s a star hero, he was like a little kid on set, mixing with everyone. His performance in this movie will show a more mature side of him. He handled very difficult scenes with ease, thanks to the preparation he put in." She added that the title 'Thammudu' (younger brother) perfectly suits the film, clarifying it has no similarity to Pawan Kalyan’s movie of the same name.
Reflecting on the changes in the industry, Laya observed, "Even though I’ve acted in many movies before, a lot has changed now. Earlier, promotions mostly revolved around audio functions, theatre visits, and 100-day celebrations. Now, there are so many promotional events, and large crowds attend them." She noted her comfort with character roles now: "Even when I was a heroine, I kept things simple. Audiences saw me as Meena in Preminchu or Ratnamala in Missamma, not as a star heroine. So now, playing a character artist feels natural - I don’t feel any difference on set."
Laya's commitment to 'Thammudu' was evident. "When I decided to come to India for this movie, I left my job in the US. Opportunities don’t come when we ask for them - so I didn’t want to miss this one," she said. Describing her character, "The character Jhansi Kiranmayee doesn’t talk much, but when she does, her words are powerful. Director Sriram Venu told me she is a strong woman who does what she believes in, without fear. I portrayed the role exactly as he envisioned. Along with her strictness, the character also shows emotion and affection."
The forest shoot left a lasting impression. "I’ll never forget the experience of shooting in the forest. We suffered many injuries - some scenes were shot barefoot, and stones hurt our feet. Not just me, even the director and other team members fell sick," she recalled. "Initially, I didn’t have combination scenes with Nithiin, but we later shot together. Director Sriram Venu was very strict on set. I got to see the film’s content while dubbing - it’s turned out extremely well and leaves a strong impact."
Laya believes 'Thammudu' marks a new phase in her career. "Throughout my career, I mostly played simple girl-next-door roles. But in 'Thammudu,' I got to play a strong woman. Every character in this film has importance - no one is just there for the sake of it. The brother-sister sentiment in this story is truly unique and unlike anything you’ve seen before."
She concluded by sharing her future aspirations: "When I came into films earlier, it was all unplanned. But now I’ve returned with the desire to really make a mark. I want to take on meaningful roles - whether it’s a sister or a mother, I’m open to anything. But I want the audience to remember my character when they leave the theatre. Even in the movies where I was the heroine, I’ve played mothers too - back then, I was just 22. If I get characters that are the driving force of the story, I’ll definitely take them up. I'm not a US artist - I’m a Hyderabad local. When I have movies, I’ll be based here. Currently, I’m working on a film with Shivaji and haven’t signed any other projects yet."
