In the realm of Telugu cinema, Ritu Varma is no stranger to portraying strong, assertive characters. Her filmography spans urban rom-coms and con-dramas where she has consistently played women who are far from being pushovers. Yet, when director Hasith Goli approached her with the script for his latest film, ‘Swag,’ Ritu found herself intrigued and pleasantly surprised. The Telugu film, set to release on October 4, is a satirical take on gender dynamics, inheritance, and lineage. The narrative unfolds over different timelines, allowing Ritu to explore a dual role – the regal Queen Rukmini Devi in the past, and the modern civil engineer Anubhuti in the present.
Ritu recently settled down for an interview in Hyderabad following a shooting schedule in Rajahmundry. During the conversation, she shared her initial reaction to the script. “I liked Hasith’s first film, Raja Raja Chora, and thought he would narrate a rom-com. Nothing prepared me for what I was going to hear,” she admitted. She describes ‘Swag’ as an entertaining satire that delves deep into societal constructs surrounding gender and familial lines.
The film’s storyline engages with both matrilineal and patrilineal systems, providing Ritu with a fresh and exciting challenge. “It felt like a breath of fresh air and came to me when I was eager to sign a Telugu film,” she said. As Rukmini Devi, a formidable queen who disdains male heirs, Ritu drew inspiration from historical queens of India and closely observed Ramya Krishna’s portrayal of Sivagami in Baahubali. “We worked on Rukmini Devi’s look and body language. She is dressed regally, with jewelry, has a unibrow, and wears colored lenses that heighten her authoritative demeanor.”
In contrast, her present-day character, Anubhuti, presents a stark difference. As a civil engineer, Anubhuti is seen with tanned skin, messy clothes, and unkempt hair – a natural result of her time spent at construction sites. “Anubhuti is fiery and asserts herself when she comes across any injustice. Both these characters are far removed from who I am in real life. I am all for equality, but I am soft-spoken and quiet,” Ritu explained.
‘Swag’ sees Ritu sharing screen space with Sree Vishnu for the first time since their individual debuts as solo leads in the 2013 film Prema Ishq Kaadhal. Interestingly, their characters in ‘Swag’ are not romantically involved. “This also came as a surprise when I heard the story,” she recalled.
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Ritu was last seen in Telugu cinema in ‘Varudu Kavalenu’ and ‘Oke Oka Jeevitham’ (Kanam in Tamil). She views ‘Swag’ as an entertaining yet experimental film that will cement her presence in the industry. “To date, I am touched when people come up and talk to me at shooting spots or when I am traveling, sometimes recalling scenes from Pelli Choopulu, Varudu… or my Tamil film Kannum Kannum Kollai Adithal (Kanulu Kanulanu Dochayante). I never planned to be an actress and I am grateful for all this recognition.”
Ritu has balanced her career between Telugu and Tamil films and appreciates the diverse opportunities she receives. “It is a good space to be in. I will not claim that I get too many scripts; it is still a challenge to find interesting films. But I am thankful that filmmakers think of me for certain characters.” She notes that she prefers to read scripts thoroughly to understand the depth and thought process behind her roles. Recent projects like ‘Nitham Oru Vaanam,’ ‘Modern Love Hyderabad,’ and ‘Modern Love Chennai’ have allowed her to delve deep into varied characters.
When working on ‘Swag,’ the intricate backstories and detailed discussions with Hasith Goli proved invaluable. “Hasith is knowledgeable and gave me more information than I asked for. ‘Swag’ has been made on a larger scale than ‘Raja Raja Chora,’ and he handled the film with confidence and grace. After the shoot, I would go home satisfied, feeling that I had done good work. It involved a lot of unlearning and learning, and I have happy memories of working on this film.”
Amid her busy schedule, Ritu is also filming for an undisclosed Telugu web series for Disney Hotstar, vaguely described as “a girl on a journey of self-discovery.” Looking ahead, she has two Telugu films lined up – one an entertainer and the other a murder mystery.
Ritu never envisioned a career in acting, having started with an engineering degree. However, cinema soon became her passion. “Initially, I had no long-term plans but gradually, I began enjoying acting and became passionate about my work.” Off-camera, she finds solace in painting and reading, with Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s ‘The Forest of Enchantments’ and ‘The Palace of Illusions’ ranking among her favorite books. “Reading and painting help me escape reality for a while, and I enjoy that too.”
As ‘Swag’ gears up for its grand release, Ritu Varma’s fans eagerly await to see her dual portrayal in a film that promises to be as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
