Sameera Reddy is making a comeback to the silver screen after more than a decade. Last seen in Tezz (2012), she revealed that the decision was sparked by her son’s reaction to her old work. About a year ago, he watched her 2008 film Race and told her that she didn’t look like that anymore, asking why she wasn’t acting. Sameera told him she had been busy raising him and his sister, but her son urged her to reconsider staying away from films.“A year ago, my son saw my film Race (2008) and asked me, ‘Wow, you don’t look like that anymore. Mum, why don’t you act?’ I said, ‘Because I’ve been busy taking care of you and your sister.’ He pushed me to reconsider my decision of staying away from showbiz,” she shared.
First time in full-fledged horrorThe 46-year-old’s return will be in a genre she has never fully explored before. She said the film, titled Chimni, is a “hardcore horror-thriller” that will release by the end of this year. While she had a brief stint as a narrator in Darna Mana Hai (2004), this is her first complete horror role. The novelty of the genre, she admitted, was a big draw for her.Nervous but readyFacing the camera again after 13 years was nerve-racking. Crew members on set referred to her as a veteran, but she laughed it off, saying she felt like she was starting from scratch. The moment the director called “action,” though, the actor in her “woke up” and she was able to perform with full conviction.Sameera observed that the industry has changed significantly since her last outing. She pointed out how filming technology had become more efficient, recalling that during Musafir (2004), she had to repeat the same scene multiple times for different angles, whereas today’s steadicam systems make such work far more streamlined.In her time away from films, Sameera built a strong presence on social media, especially during the pandemic. She used the platform to speak openly about issues many women face — from parenting challenges to aging and weight fluctuations. While she noted that many celebrities prefer to hide such matters, she wanted to normalise them. The connection she has formed with women followers, she said, comes from their shared understanding that “no one is beyond issues.”
