My dad had no choice but to take back the announcement. Padmalaya studio was filled with fans staging a dharna. The minute the news was out, thousands of my dad’s fans came to his studio with black clothes and kerosene bottles, saying that they were going to burn themselves if he did not take back the announcement he made about me. He set up a great project and made an announcement again that I was going to be acting. Realizing how much it meant to me to be an actress, once again, my dad planned my movie career as an actress. Through a friend, I got a list of all the ad agencies and distributed my pics.

One fine morning, I went to Bombay to pursue my desire. I felt victimized and could not accept it. He said he would support me in whatever I choose other than acting. My dad could not take the pressure and the negative talk about me. Not just the fans but also the rest of my family, relatives, and society – no one could accept me becoming an actress. Fans didn’t want me to act as they respected my dad so much that they couldn’t accept his daughter to be romancing and running around trees with other heroes. His fans reacted strongly and requested my dad to take back the announcement. Once the announcement was made, to my surprise, all hell broke loose. That was one of the best moments of my life. He understood my seriousness about acting and made an announcement that I was going to act. I got a portfolio done, showed it to my dad, and this time I had a heart-to-heart chat with him. So, I continued my journey as an assistant director.īut my desire to be an actor was so strong that I could no longer function behind the camera. They told me firmly that under no circumstances can this happen. Gathering all my guts, I broke the news to my dad and family that I want to be an actress. My interest in acting became a strong desire now. I finished college, after which I assisted my dad and observed how films were directed. But I could not share this with anyone as it was a taboo for girls in most of the Telugu film-industry families to act in movies.

As I grew up watching my dad, I wanted to be a great actor like him. In the summer holidays, my dad would create great roles for my brothers, and once or twice, he gave me a role as well. Watching my dad put makeup on, the arc lights, camera, action, I just loved it.

Actress manjula family