Zaid Khan will be seen in the pan-India movie 'Banaras', which is going to be released in theatres on November 4. Sonal Monterio, its female lead, has been busy promoting the movie. Catch her talk about the mystery romantic fantasy in this chit-chat. She reveals that she is also doing a Sarojini Naidu biopic.
It is less than a week. I am both excited and nervous since 'Banaras' is my first pan-India outing. I am getting to explore film industries outside my home. I am surely nervous thinking about how the audience from different languages are going to accept our movie.
I have done almost eight movies in Kannada. I am a fresher in other languages. We are receiving a great response from Telugu and Hindi. People are talking about the trailer of 'Banaras' and the song 'Maya Ganga'. The love that we are getting is giving us the confidence that we can do our best!
This is not a genre-specific film. Time-travel is just a part of the story. Sci-fi, romance, and suspense are its main elements. Visually, it is going to be a treat. Banaras has been shown so beautifully. Even content-wise, it is spectacular. It's a unique script that is way beyond the regular fare. The director wrote the script keeping in mind the OTT era and how the audience expect a lot.
I have worked with a couple of big directors in Sandalwood. Jayatirtha is a director who writes strong characters for the female lead. The screen time and prominence he gives to the heroines in his films are always big.
Zaid Khan, my co-star, is a supportive actor. He is so much fun to be with. Despite coming from an influential political family, he doesn't show airs.
As a Mangalorean, 'Kantara' is close to my heart. Our culture has been shown in that film. It's a proud moment for me that the whole world is getting to know about our culture. At the same time, 'Banaras' is entirely different. People will want to watch 'Banaras' after an intense film like 'Kantara'.
I started out in the Tulu film industry before moving to Sandalwood. I didn't want to jump to Bollywood without exploring the South more. I am now looking forward to getting offers from Tollywood.
I watch Telugu movies regularly. I also understand the language well. Most of my films have been shot in Ramoji Film City. Telugus are unbiased and accept actors without any reservations. If you are a performer, they will make you a star. Sreeleela is my friend. She comes from Karnataka. I have always had a big crush on Vijay Deverakonda, by the way (laughs). 'Sita Ramam' is my most recent movie. 'Pushpa', 'RRR' are among my favourite Telugu movies.
I am busy with many projects in Kannada. I am also doing a biopic on Sarojini Naidu. It's a pan-India film.
