Actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who has established herself across Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema, says she is keen to move beyond the glamorous image associated with her career and take up roles that allow her to showcase her abilities as an actor. Despite being part of several successful films and gaining immense popularity for her dance performances, she feels filmmakers continue to approach her largely for special or “item” songs.
Tamannaah, popularly known as the “Milky Beauty”, has become particularly associated with chartbusters such as Kaavaalaa from Jailer and Aaj Ki Raat from Stree 2. While she enjoys the opportunities that come with dance performances, the actress says she would like to see a wider range of roles coming her way. For her, the next phase of her career is about exploring characters with greater emotional and dramatic depth rather than being confined to a glamorous presence.
The actress is currently working on director Sundar C’s Tamil film Purushan, opposite Vishal, besides having five Hindi projects in the pipeline. With a career spanning multiple industries, Tamannaah believes this is the right time to challenge herself as an actor and explore unfamiliar territory. She is looking for filmmakers who will trust her with characters that demand performance and allow audiences to see a different side of her.
Tamannaah has also spoken about the changing nature of Indian cinema and the way certain elements are perceived on screen. She feels intimate scenes, when organically required by a story, should not automatically be viewed separately or judged negatively. According to her, such elements need to be understood within the context of the narrative and the characters.
At this stage of her career, Tamannaah appears determined to redefine the image that audiences have associated with her. From glamorous songs and commercial entertainers to demanding acting roles, her choices suggest a desire to broaden her creative space. With several projects ahead, the actress is hoping the industry will see her not merely as a successful performer on screen, but as an actor capable of taking on challenging and diverse characters.