Gopika is just like her character in her Telugu debut movie Naa Autograph: unassuming, down-to-earth - whether she is adjusting her locks or the pallu for the next shot, (a bicycle ride with hero Sharwanand) or asking the make-up man to re-do her hair.
Her debut movie didn't do too well. Nor did her other two films - Letha Manasulu and Yuvasena. But still, she became a sought-after actor in south Indian cinema. The bubbly girl is currently shooting for a Telugu film by Usha Kiron Movies. Despite being busy in Malayalam and Tamil films - that explains the gap in Telugu films - she couldn't resist the plum offer by a "good banner involving very good technicians."
"I feel elated about this offer worth the gap. I play an investigative journalist in this heroine-oriented film and the subject is good," says the pretty girl. The stone-studded choker-and-earrings affair seems heavy on this petite girl when contrasted with her flowing costume.
Recollecting her debut film, Gopika says, "I acted in the original Tamil version and Gopal Reddy sir happened to like my performance. So, he chose me for the Telugu version too. Portraying the role of a Malayali girl was quite natural - it was just like being myself. The difficult part was when I had to speak some dialogues in Telugu in the remade version since I wasn't familiar with the language."
Having acted in Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil films, Gopika feels that "except for the fact that the Telugu industry is a lot more professional, there are no major differences in the three major south Indian language films. However, Malayalam cinema has become more glamorous and commercial-oriented now," says the smart actor who still watches films with the same thrill of her childhood days.
Whenever she is shooting outside Kerala, she tries to "cope up with differences in language, food and climate." Comparing Hyderabad with Chennai, she says the former is "neat, less congestion and pollution, plus smooth traffic. But when compared to my hometown Thrissur , the traffic is quite heavy."
Just a glimpse of her mother is enough to make one understand the origins of her delicate beauty. A doting daughter, Gopika never leaves her mother's hand while talking fondly about homemade fish curry, avial and pickles, or the Hyderabadi biryani she enjoys at Green Park or Paradise, or about indulging her sweet tooth with gulab jamoon and ice creams... . With a broad smile that spreads to her attractive eyes, she says she loves vegetable fried rice while insisting "coconut oil is a must for me, but here they cook everything in sunflower oil." Now we know the secret behind her beauty!
SHANTI NANISETTI
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