When you have style, oomph and unmistakable 'cool' quotient, you have it all. Usha Uthup is known for her unique personality; be it wearing a mirchi print sari, Kanjeevaram sneakers, large bindis or even when she belts out numbers in the voice of a sexy young siren.

With a career that spans over four decades, the singer, who was last seen in 7 Khoon Maaf, is raring to go as an actor. “Just to be on the set with Naseeruddin Shah, Annu Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra was such an amazing experience. I have acted with big names like Amitabh Bachchan, Mammootty and Kamal Haasan. When people saw me with Mammootty, they assumed that I was a trained actor. Actually, I am a director's actor and emoting well is my USP. This, I believe, comes from my music, where the emotional quotient is very high. Acting is an extension of my music and I just love it,“ she says. A grandmother of two, Usha adds, “I think I am good at it. Make me a bartender, mother, sister, lover or grandmom - I just want to act.“

She has been an icon when it comes to making fashion statements. “My middle-class upbringing was the reason I stuck to saris and later, when I could afford it, I would hunt for silks and mix and match the styles and borders. Tall border saris began to be called Usha Uthup saris,“ she reveals. Her fancy sneakers also have a story behind them. “Earlier, during shows, I had to stand for hours in stilettos. So, I began wearing sneakers on stage.One day, I experimented by sticking a border of a Kanjeevaram sari to my shoes, and now I have a series of such sneakers,“ she adds.

On a parting note, the powerhouse stage performer, shares, “The secret of my energy is what I get from my audiences. It is a give and take. I give everything I have on stage, I do my best and leave the rest to God.“