Mandy Takhar adds spice to south Indian film

What’s British- Punjabi model-actress Mandy Takhar doing in a Tamil film?

“I am the ‘mirchi’ in Venkat’s Biriyani,” said Takhar, referring to her role in Venkat Prabhu’s soon-to-be-released Tamil film Biriyani.

Takhar is a popular Punjabi actress and in her debut in the south, she plays Maya, a seductress.

“Maya is sensuality personified,” said Takhar, who was born and raised in Wolverhampton in the UK.

Initially when the role was offered to her, she was apprehensive.

“How can I pull off this sexy siren, as in all my films I have been covered from head to toe? I am not comfortable with exposure. Maya clearly is not a part of my personality.”

Goading her on was a quote that she remembered. “If you feel you can’t do something, then all the more you should do it.”

Takhar thus took on the challenge of becoming Maya — for a while.

“Besides, as an actor I did not want to be typecast and here was an opportunity to become versatile,” she said. “It was not easy though. I had to fight shyness and nervousness. I would wonder ‘Oh my God! Is my cleavage showing?’

Praising the team and her co-stars for their professionalism, Takhar added: “They made me feel comfortable on the sets and were true gentlemen.”

Biriyani is a thriller featuring Karthi and Hansika Motwani in the lead.