Speaking with disarming honesty, Sreeleela reflects on what home truly means, “While my home is based out of Hyderabad, I have always travelled a lot. So, I have bases everywhere. Right now, home is wherever my mum is with me as I feel her presence makes any place home,” shared the actor, with her mother by her side at the shoot.
Talking about how travel shaped her openness and culture, she shared, “Back then, it was all about understanding or being a part of that culture. Since I’m the kind of person who likes exploring different cultures and languages, it’s been fun. Mumbai has also taught me a little bit of Marathi, too.”
Sreeleela reflected on her early days in Kannada cinema, where she discovered that every language holds its own rhythm its own emotional frequency that shapes how stories are told and felt. “A lot happened in Kannada because that’s where I started, and they were all different. Each language has a different frequency scale, and it’s really important, when you're working in four to five different languages, to understand the rhythm of the language.”
She shares her perspective on detours and choices in her career. She said, “Where I am today is because of those detours. I believe whatever happens, it’s for the best, and there’s nothing that I consider as off-direction or a setback. Sometimes saying no also requires a lot of strength. I’ve said no to certain things, and that’s only benefitted me in a good way, so I hold no regrets. I like my detours.”
Sreeleela opens up about how cinema and travel intertwine in her life. “The advantage of cinema is that it takes people on a visual journey to places where they haven’t been,” she says, adding that wanderlust is her constant companion. “Traveling also helps an actor because it’s all about exploring, which comes down to exposure to different personalities, mentalities, and somewhere, blending into cultures. Also, understanding that we are all a small part of a larger thing. So, it has had a massive impact on me as a person.”
Shedding light on the challenges of traveling as a child and growing into independence, she said, “Growing up, I’ve been a very guarded child, so traveling without family members didn’t happen. Then, my mum started letting go, and traveling opened my mind. I realized that an actor’s journey is about tapping into these experiences.I love to talk to random people. Like you would probably see me having a conversation with an eight-year-old between the scenes. I love collecting and listening to stories and understanding others’ experiences and journeys.”
As a newcomer, her craft is shaped by curiosity and empathy qualities she’s refined beyond classrooms and film schools. “I didn’t go to any acting school. My teachers have been on set for starters; it’s been my co-actors and my directors. But if someone says to go lock myself in the room, I will probably try that. It will be fun, and I wouldn’t mind going to a different country (laughs).”
Opening up about her upcoming projects, she said, “I’ve been shuffling between Chennai and Mumbai. Both my Tamil and Hindi debuts are coming up, so I’m thrilled about that, and I’m holding them very close to me.”
