I am on top : Sameera Reddy

Sameera Reddy could well believe that she has had a new phase kick starting in her career. Though majority are aware about the controlled and impressive performance she has given in last weekend's release RED ALERT - THE WAR WITHIN, not many know that this is not the only reason for her feeling joyous. That's because on the same Friday, her Malayalam film ORU NAAL VARUM with none other than Mohan Lal also opened. That's not all as the film is a commercial success.

"It has been one crazy weekend and I have loved every moment of it", says Sameera who is indeed ecstatic about the turn of events, "I was on phone the entire day and congratulatory calls were pouring in for both RED ALERT and ORU NAAL VARUM. After a while, I just started enjoying the good words rather than keep track of who was congratulating me for which film."

After the hat trick of successful films in the form of RACE, DE DANA DAN and ONE TWO THREE, Sameera now has two new films of hers which have got her attention all over again.

"Both my new releases were performance oriented films and hence the response this time was very different from what it was in case of DE DANA DAN or RACE", says Sameera, "RED ALERT was pretty offbeat while this Malayalam film was about divorce and pain that comes with it. It was Priyan who had requested me to do this film and I am glad I did it. I am told by the director that it is a hit. This film is special because it has also got a social message.

Well, same is the case with 'RED ALERT as well which is as topical as it gets. Does it mean that Sameera could well be turning into a social crusader of sorts?

Laughs Sameera, "Nahi, aisa kuch nahi hai. I didn't plan it this way at all. It is just coincidental that both films have released together."

I was extremely caught up with Bollywood : Sameera

RED ALERT - THE WAR WITHIN releases today and Sameera Reddy couldn't have been happier. It was close to a couple of years back when she was associated with this Ananth Mahadevan directed film. Now that her effort is ready to be unveiled in front of audience, she can't help but keep her fingers crossed and wait for the final outcome. The film is also special because she started working on it at the time when she was going through a low period.

"I wasn't quite enjoying my life", she sighs, "In life you are sometimes so busy chasing things that you don't know what you are actually doing. Once you decide that you want to be a little relaxed in life, things finally start falling in place all by themselves."

One wonders what exactly is indicating here? What was she chasing actually?

"I was extremely caught up with Bollywood", admits Sameera who comes with a hat trick of successes (RACE, DE DANA DAN, ONE TWO THREE) behind her, "My life was only about that. Eventually I realized that it was just a state of mind. We actors sometimes just don't take out for time for ourselves. The way we run from one shoot to another, it is simply crazy. I guess it is necessary for us to give time to our own life."

This is the reason why the first step for her was to get into a weight loss regime. "I worked hard on myself and went through a weight loss. It was before the release of DE DANA DAN and ever since then I haven't looked and felt better. Also, I changed as a person and that showed. One needs to have a healthy mind as well to ensure a healthy body", smiles Sameera before signing off.

Woman Power shown in Red Alert

RED ALERT-THE WAR WITHIN, slated for release on 9th July 2010 reveals an unusual angle in the Naxalite fold the power of women. Top lining Sameera Reddy, Bhagyashree, Seema Biswas and Ayesha Dharker, the film highlights women fighting alongside men. Going totally deglam, these actresses battled it out in rough terrain and heavy rain enacting sequences from the film that closely resemble headlines today in a movement that has empowered women with equal rights.

For Seema Biswas, RED ALERT marks a return to the gritty realism of BANDIT QUEEN, Ayesha Dharker picks up the threads after THE TERRORIST, Sameera Reddy continues her tryst with serious cinema after KAALPURUSH and Bhagyashree sheds her MAINE PYAR KIYA image for some real life conflict.

The admirable male ensemble in the film sure has some terrific competition in the acting and action departments.

Sameera and Shamita

Sameera Reddy with Shamita Shetty, the younger sister of Shilpa Shetty