It was one of those blistering hot days — the kind that makes you want to stay in air-conditioned confines. However Lakshmi Rai, the beautiful star, who was shooting for the Kerala Strikers’ theme song, showed no sign of discomfort even though she was directly under the sweltering sun at the Kaloor stadium.
Dressed in jersey colours of green, yellow and blue, Lakshmi, in her capacity as the brand ambassador of the team, literally lived up to the role cheering the players from the stands and sharing banter with them.
Not many know that Lakshmi was an accomplished sports person during her school days and that she excelled in basketball and volleyball. She has not hidden her love for sports, especially cricket, often being a regular fixture at most cricket matches.
Says Lakshmi, “I love sports the most after the entertainment industry and am lucky to be part of the Kerala Strikers team. I’m comfortable with the players as I know all of them and Mohanlal as the captain is the best in terms of encouragement, energy and drive. Although it is a new team, the boys are showing a lot of promise.’’
An ex-model, this Kannadiga beauty stepped into the Mollywood industry through the film Rock n Roll opposite Mohanlal and went on to do noticeable roles in Annan Thambi, 2 Harihar Nagar, Chattambinadu etc. Lakshmi has also made inroads into three south Indian film industries and donned a negative role in the latest Ajith-starrer Kollywood hit Mankatha.
She talks about her Mollywood releases, “I am doing Mayamohini, Oru Marubhumi Katha and Cassanova in Malayalam as well as some Telugu and Tamil films. I have been getting some interesting offers from Bollywood too and will be setting my sights there next year.’’
It is no wonder that Bollywood has come calling for her style quotient and the mixture of her touch-me- not air and intense charm are very appealing. So, will the current winds of unrest sweeping across the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu regarding the Mullaperiyar issue have any bearing on her Kollywood career?
“I have personally not faced any backlashes. I seriously cannot understand the whole concept of strikes and bans. Whatever be the reason, I am optimistic that at some point in time, everything will be sorted out. Kerala has always been a second home to me and will remain so,’’ she says with a smile.