Priyamani signs first Kannada film

Bangalore, March 10 (IANS) Tamil star Priyamani grew up in Bangalore but has only now got around to signing her first Kannada film "Raam". A remake of Telugu superhit "Ready", she will be starring opposite Puneet Raj Kumar.

Priyamani, who won the National Award for her performance in Tamil film "Paruthiveeran", has been offered Kannada films earlier, but either the dates didn't match or there were problems over fees.

It was Kannada film producer Adithya Babu who finally managed to make the actress sign up for "Raam".

"Puneet and Priyamani would be a great combination for a 100 percent entertainer like 'Raam'. We were trying to get her on board for some time, but somehow dates could not be matched earlier. But now we have advanced our shooting schedule. Priyamani was more than accommodating. Everything has fallen into place now and she would finally be acting in her first Kannada film," said Babu.

Priyamani too had expressed her desire to work in a Kannada film after she won the National award for the 2007 film.

"I was approached by directors like Sunil Kumar Desai. Even a year ago I was offered a Kannada film with Ganesh. But I was very busy in Telugu films that did not allow me to take up these projects. But I would like to work in a Kannada film at the earliest," Priyamani had told reporters here recently.

Though Priyamani was born in Palakkad in Kerala, she grew up in Bangalore where she started her modelling career. Though she can speak Kannada fluently, it was Tamil film director Bharathi Raja who introduced her in "Kangalaal Kaithu Sey" before any Kannada filmmaker could spot her talent.

The actress has now landed a role in acclaimed director Mani Ratnam's bilingual film "Ashokavanam" and "Raavana", which boasts of a cast that includes Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.

Priyamani has just completed shooting Telugu film "Mithrudu", where she is paired opposite Balakrishna. Another Telugu film with Venkatesh is also on the cards.