Shriya Saran, one of the most beautiful actresses in Kollywood

Shriya Saran, one of the most beautiful actresses in Kollywood, is busy shooting for her first Hollywood film, titled The Other End of the Line. Her Tamil-Telugu super hit Sivaji opposite Superstar Rajinikanth bagged her this coveted role.

Shriya's debut

A trained Kathak dancer, Shriya stepped into acting without much effort. A music video in which her dance was featured caught the attention of the Telugu movie Ishtam's producer. Hence Shriya got a role in the film. Though Ishtam did not soar at the box-office, it fetched her a role opposite Nagarjuna in Santhosham; Santhosham topped the blockbuster-list, her rise in Tollywood began, and the rest is history. She has worked with top heroes like Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu in her 22 Telugu films.

No stereotypes

During the initial phase of her career, Shriya focused on achieving star-status by declining films that limited her role to just a few scenes and songs. But now, after becoming an established star, she is happy to appear in glamorous songs (item numbers) in films.

Even while she was the toast of Tollywood with a long list of hits to her credit, she switched industries and did Mazhai in Tamil. Popular gossip and industry predictions forecast a resultant sharp decline in her career. But through her beauty and talent, Shriya silenced the cynics and disproved the gloomy predictions. Not only did she become a dream girl, she rose to become the Superstar's pair in Sivaji. The film brought out the best in her and raised her position in the industry.

In the meantime, she also featured in Mahesh Bhatt's Hindi film, Awarapan. Among the Kollywood Diwali releases, she is the heroine of Azhagiya Tamil Magan with Ilayathalapathy Vijay. Shooting for Kanthaswamy with Chiyaan Vikram is progressing. After the Hollywood film, Shriya will be seen in Apurva Lakhia's Mission Istanbul

Shriya's USP is her slim, perfect figure (even her female co-stars envy her slender waistline!), her glowing looks and of course a touch of class

The Hollywood project

Along with Shriya, the cast of The Other End of the Line includes Jesse Metcalfe, Sara Foster and Anupam Kher. The movie, a joint venture of Adlabs and MGM is co-produced by Ashok Amritraj, is directed by James Dodson. The story of The Other End of the Line deals with an Indian call-center employee who falls in love with a guy in San Francisco through her telephone conversations with him. She then travels to the country to meet him. Shriya says she just loved the storyline and her role. "It is a great project. All my co-stars are very encouraging and supportive. I work in a different system with all things planned," says Shriya

But how did Shriya get this role? Long ago, Shriya and Ashok Amritraj met by chance at an airport, but after that, neither of them kept in touch. When Amritraj decided to make this film, it was Shriya who came to his mind as the apt heroine.

sooting began in October 2007 and has completed schedules in Singapore, Delhi and Mumbai. Next, the crew proceeds to the next destination, New York. The movie will release in 2008.

"So far, the film has come out very well. I enjoy every moment being part of the great project," says a jubilant Shriya