Stepping into direction feels like a natural next chapter: Varalaxmi Sarathkumar

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar is charting new territory. Known for her work across Tamil and Telugu cinema, the actor is now donning the hat of a filmmaker. With her directorial debut underway and her Hollywood film Rizana – A Caged Bird alongside Jeremy Irons, she’s expanding her creative canvas. In a conversation with Hyderabad Times, Varalaxmi talks about building a life in Hyderabad, her husband’s role in shaping her next chapter, and the kind of stories she hopes to tell.‘Hyderabad has become my home’Having lived in Hyderabad for over three years now, Varalaxmi says the city has become an integral part of her life. “Initially, I moved here for work, but over time I grew to love the city. After marriage, Nicholai and I decided to settle down here. He has also grown to love it here, and we’ve built a home together. The city has been welcoming, and most of my recent projects are in Telugu. It’s been good to me both personally and professionally,” she adds, calling Hyderabad “a place that now feels like mine.

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‘Nicholai encouraged me to step into direction’Varalaxmi is excited to work with an ensemble cast — Prakash Raj, Priyamani and Naveen Chandra — for her directorial debut. “It’s not a typical hero-villain story; it’s character-driven, with every role carrying equal weight,” she shares. The social thriller has music by Thaman. Talking about the challenge of directing a Telugu film, she says, “Although I didn’t watch many Telugu films growing up, I’ve learned the language over time.

I now even dub for my own work and have three to four Telugu films lined up. I find myself thinking more in Telugu than Tamil these days,” she laughs.The decision to step behind the camera, she adds, wasn’t impulsive but something she’d long envisioned. “The desire had always been there, but I never had the push. Nicholai and a close friend encouraged me, saying, ‘You’re already doing it unconsciously wherever you go.’ That gave me the nudge I needed.

My husband’s a very vocal supporter of mine. Usually, women are taught to downplay their ambitions, but with him, it’s freeing.

He’s honest, encouraging, and my biggest critic, all rolled into one,” she shares.‘Life’s a juggle and I’m okay with that’Balancing multiple roles comes naturally to Varalaxmi, who continues to act while directing and producing. “My passion for acting hasn’t been fulfilled yet, but I felt directing and producing needed to begin now.

Managing it all can get hectic, but I thrive in that space. I love doing it all,” she says, signing off with a smile.

‘Working with Jeremy Irons is a dream come true’Varalaxmi is set to make her Hollywood debut with Rizana: A Caged Bird, directed by Chandran Rutnam, in which she stars alongside Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons. “Working with Jeremy Irons is extraordinary. It’s a dream come true. We’ve finalised the cast and are locking locations. The story isn’t based on one real-life event but combines multiple incidents woven into one narrative,” she says.— Divya Shree