Top Southern actress Laxmi (Lakshmi Rai) has been offered a part in Bollywood’s Heyy Gujju with Himesh Reshammiya in a double role - but because of the usual contractual obligations is so far unable to say much. “I’ve moved to Mumbai and am getting ready to do the film,” she confirms, “I’ve been asked to lose nine kilos for the role.”

Laxmi is popular throughout the South, particularly in Kollywood and Mollywood - but doesn’t she find shuttling between the different climatic, cultural and language zones hard work? “Oh yes! It’s very difficult to adjust to diverse climates and food,” she says, “The last two months have been quite hectic. Mastering the languages is another tough task, but am hoping I will be able to overcome that handicap soon.”

Laxmi, perhaps best known for her role in Kangana Ranaut’s excellent Dhaam Dhoom, has had a busy with movies such as Jai’s fast-paced action thriller Vaamanan, based on Will Smith’s Enemy of the State and the political thriller Muthirai with Daniel Balaji. Currently, she is working on the period comedy Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam with Lawrence and Sandhya and Naan Avanillai 2 with Jeevan and Shweta Menon.