More than two decades after the release of Malliswari, director K. Vijaya Bhaskar has revisited his memories of working with Katrina Kaif in her debut Telugu film. The 2004 romantic comedy, which paired Katrina opposite Venkatesh, introduced the actress to Telugu audiences. Over the years, Malliswari has remained one of the most cherished films in Katrina's early career.
Director Opens Up on Shooting Challenges
In an earlier interaction with iDream Media, Vijaya Bhaskar spoke about the effort that went into shaping Katrina's performance and preparing her for the role. According to the filmmaker, one of the biggest challenges was helping the actress adapt to the cultural traits required for the character. He explained that Katrina came from a very different background and was unfamiliar with the mannerisms expected from a traditional Telugu character.
Recalling the experience, he said, “It was very difficult but what I say is, she’s a very hardworking person. She doesn’t even have any body language. Sometimes when she sits, I have to ask her to sit properly. It is because they grew up in a completely different environment. There’s no idea about how a Telugu girl is supposed to be. She should just be a princess, royal and all, but also very respectful and loving.” Despite the difficulties, the director praised Katrina's dedication and willingness to learn during the production.
Casting Katrina Kaif Was Not Easy
The challenges began even before filming started. Vijaya Bhaskar revealed that he personally wanted Katrina for the role after noticing her in an advertisement. The director believed she possessed the freshness needed for the character. However, securing her participation proved complicated and created unexpected hurdles for the production team.
Speaking about the process, he said, “Actually it was my choice to cast Katrina, so it got really tough for the producer. I saw Katrina Kaif in an ad, she was really good. We called her, told her the story, and she said okay. So, we went to Mumbai. Everything was set, however there was some form of disagreement later in the day. Even when the production team offered an advance, she refused to take it.”
With Katrina's involvement appearing uncertain at one stage, the team reportedly considered numerous actresses for the role. The director recalled that several beauty pageant winners were invited for discussions, auditions, and photo shoots. The search was extensive as the filmmakers looked for the perfect actress to portray the princess. Sharing details, he said, “All the so-called beauty queens were called right here by Suresh Daggubati, literally all of them.” Among the leading contenders was Sonali Bendre.
Why Katrina Kaif Was Ultimately Chosen
Although Sonali Bendre emerged as a strong option, Vijaya Bhaskar remained convinced that Malliswari needed a fresh face. He believed audiences should instantly identify the character as a princess rather than associate her with an already established star. Explaining his reasoning, he said, “I really like Sonali Bendre. She’s a very professional girl and a really good actor. But I knew she was not Malliswari, because we’ve already looked into that. I’ve already done it myself in Manmadhudu. Sonali Bendre was everyone’s choice for the role of Malliswari because she was considered the most beautiful and disciplined actress of that era. However, I wanted to cast someone who was a fresh face to Telugu audiences so they would truly feel like they were watching a princess.”
The decision eventually paid off. Malliswari became a memorable success and helped establish Katrina Kaif among South Indian audiences. The actress has also appeared in the Malayalam film Balram vs. Tharadas opposite Mammootty.
