Sameera Reddy speaks to us about body positivity, the content she shares on social media and wanting to get back to acting. Excerpts:

It’s definitely been too long. But I feel very connected to the Tamil audience because I have been on social media. I actually feel more connected now than I was years ago. Earlier, there was a very touch-me-not relationship between stars and the audience. But I feel so happy today that I can sometimes directly talk to them.

I’ve been missing it every day, because it’s in my blood. When you have done something from a young age, you do feel that way. I’m actually okay not doing Bollywood, but I feel something amiss when not being part of south films. Even when I started my career in Hindi, being a South Indian, I think I never earned my parents’ complete respect. They were okay with it, but that was it. However, the day I started doing South Indian cinema, it’s been very lucky for me. And I’m very grateful for it. Also, my parents had so much joy and pride about it.

I think I love writing and directing myself. And for years, I’ve never had that opportunity, because as an actor, you always have to listen to your director or producer. What happened with reels was, I was at home and I had time. And I wanted to express myself and make people smile. So, I started just doing these short format videos. I write, direct, and also shoot these myself. And I enjoy it so much. Because, as an actor, you have 10 people doing things for you. The most amazing thing is that I had never explored this side of me, and I realised that I have so much more to offer. And the response has been incredible, so it has become this vehicle of just enjoying and expressing. That’s why I feel that today, the connection with the audience is much stronger than it was before.

I do try to find time, though I don’t watch that many. I enjoy K dramas and the OTT stuff. I think films will always be the blockbuster ones, but I think real, hard performances are coming out on OTT, more than than the blockbusters.

Not really. But I met Suriya recently, when he was shooting in Goa. He’s looking great. My Vettai director, Lingusamy sir, and I spoke recently. I have good relationships with everybody. I also spoke to Priyan sir, because I’m very close to his daughter, Ammu (Kalyani Priyadarshan); she’s doing so well. I also met Gautham in Bombay. Everyone’s question is, ‘When are you going to be back?’ I feel like I never left because everybody’s so connected with me.

I live in Goa now. From morning till night, between kids and content creation, I’m just living a beautiful life. Goa is very stunning. And it’s very different from city life. It’s very quiet. Of course, when I start making my reels, it’s very busy and noisy.

When Gautham offered me Vaaranam Aayiram, he told me I was the second choice. The actress he had offered it to before me had felt it was too small a role, and had three actresses. But when I heard the story, all I felt was that if you take Meghna out, this movie will not work. For me, that’s the thing for choosing a role. So, I said yes, immediately. Many people told me that I was making a very bad career move. But something in my heart knew that this movie was different. My then manager even fought with me. But I said, ‘I don’t care. I’m in the same movie as Simran, who I love, and Suriya.’ We went against many odds, and look where it ended up! With this film, for the first time, Gautham showed me as a very simple person. If you had seen me in the other movies I’d done before that, I had a lot of makeup on. It was all about sexy, sexy, sexy. I think Vaaranam Aayiram really changed it for me because that was truly who I was and am as a person. I frankly don’t care about being sexy. I care about being connected and loved, and that’s what the film gave me.

All my life, I have always had very deep body-image issues. I was never a slim girl. I used to not feel great about losing weight for roles. After having kids, I felt that as a woman, I have to speak up. Because many go through this. I felt fearless, and did not want to hide anymore. I felt as a person, if I stand up, and speak for a community of people that feel pressured, maybe we can make it better, no? Many people have asked me, ‘Why do you talk about aging?’, ‘Why do you talk about stretch marks?’ I do it so that people will feel better. Because, there are a lot of people who suffer alone, who feel bad alone. The response has been so powerful, and has me literally in tears. This is what’s more important than a blockbuster film or being loved as a star. Being loved as a human is more important.