MAKING OF A 'GIRL NEXT DOOR'

"EVERYONE HAS THAT ONE THING THAT BRINGS PEACE," SAYS YOGALAKSHMI. "FOR ME, IT'S ACTING." THE TOURIST FAMILY STAR GETS CANDID IN AN EXCLUSIVE CHAT

- BY SHAHUL HAMEED

For Yogalakshmi, the fire to perform ignited early—and it burned bright enough to make her question the need for higher studies. But with her parents stepping in to ensure she fulfilled her academic responsibilities; she balanced both worlds before stepping into the one that truly called to her: cinema.

That unwavering passion hasn't dimmed. She first won hearts across Tamil households with her earnest performance in the popular daily serial Singappenne, instantly becoming a familiar face on the small screen. But Yogalakshmi wasn’t one to stay in her comfort zone. She took a bold leap with her role in Heart Beat, a Hotstar Specials series, where her nuanced performance proved she could carry depth and complexity with equal grace. Just as fans were anticipating the second instalment of Heart Beat, she surprised everyone with her delightful and emotional role in Tourist Family, starring alongside veterans Sasi Kumar and Simran. In an exclusive and candid conversation with us, Yogalakshmi opens up about her journey, her relentless love for acting, and even shares a side of Sasi Kumar that fans have never seen.

You had mentioned that you got a surprise call for a role in a TV serial. But before that, was it always to be an actor?

After I finished 12th grade, I told my family, “Appa, I've completed school. That’s enough for me. I’m going to do acting.” Acting has always been my ambition—how do I even explain it? Everyone has that one thing that gives them a sense of relief or peace. For me, it’s acting. I told them clearly, “I'll pursue this after 12th.” But their reaction was, “Mariyathaiya oru degree mudichitu, enna vena pannu, Kambathu mela nada, enna vena pannu’”—which basically means, “Finish a degree with some dignity, and then do whatever you want, even if it's walking on ropes.

What flicked the switch in you? That one thing that made acting not just a dream, but a need?