Actor and producer Sharmiela Mandre was hardly two to three films old in Kannada cinema, when she signed Navagraha, starring Challenging Star Darshan and eight others including herself in the lead.
Released 16 years ago on November 7, 2008, the blockbuster Kannada film is hitting the screens for the second time on November 8, this Friday.
Speaking exclusively to Times Now, Sharmiela Mandre shares her 16-year-old experience and her excitement to witness the magic on the big screen for one more time with the film re-releasing tomorrow (November 8).
‘Said yes in no time’
“I was just two films old and was working for my third film when Dinakar Thoogudeepa reached me with the role in Navagraha. I still remember that there was a coffee joint on Lavelle Road in Bengaluru where I had been to meet the director for the script narration. I sometimes get positive vibe that I said yes to Dinakar Thoogudeepa to act in the film even before the director read the script to me,” recalls Sharmiela Mandre.
She adds, “It was an overwhelming experience, both on and off screen working for the film. We shot in remote places like Sakleshpur and parts of Mysore (now Mysuru). Back then, film shooting was a different ball game altogether.”
ALSO READ: Challenging Star Darshan’s 2008 Blockbuster Navagraha To Re-release On November 8
Food and conversations
The actor further shares that there were no caravans back then and even mobile networks were not that great, which made her connect so well with the entire team while shooting for the film. Also, it was a heist drama of its kind which was all the more fun to work and especially for the audience to experience it in theatres.
“I was initially nervous since it was being directed by Dinakar Thoogudeepa and the film being made under their home banner — Thoogudeepa Productions. And, of course Darshan sir in a never seen avatar,” she added.
As to her most memorable experience, Sharmiela Mandre, shares “We had specially cooked non-vegetarian food served all throughout the film shoot. This is when I started liking ragi balls and country chicken recipes. Apart from food, it was memorable to work with all my co-artists. It was even more special as the romantic track Kan Kanna Salige from the film is still loved and cherished by many even to this day.”
The film directed by Dinakar Thoogudeepa starring Darshan, Sharmiela Mandre, Vinod Prabhakar, Varsha, Tharun Sudhir, Srujan Lokesh, Dharma Keerthiraj, Giri Dinesh, Nagendra Urs and others is re-releasing in theatres on November 8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRPCQUSK8QQ