Priya Bhavani Shankar on Irumudi: ‘It Will Be Among the Best Telugu Films in Recent Years’

Priya Bhavani Shankar is approaching her latest Telugu release, Irumudi, with a level of confidence that goes beyond the usual pre-release optimism. The actor believes the Ravi Teja-starrer, directed by Shiva Nirvana, has the substance to stand among the most notable Telugu films of recent years.

“I think Irumudi will be among the best Telugu films in recent years,” Priya says, speaking about the film ahead of its theatrical release on August 21.

For an actor who has spent nearly a decade building a career across television and cinema, Priya’s confidence comes from her instinct for stories and, more importantly, her insistence on choosing characters that contribute meaningfully to a film.

Her journey from being a news reporter to becoming an established actor has taken her through Tamil cinema, Telugu films and streaming projects. Along the way, she says, one principle has remained unchanged: she does not want to be cast simply to add glamour to a film.

Priya Bhavani Shankar puts her faith in Irumudi

Irumudi brings Priya together with Ravi Teja under the direction of Shiva Nirvana. The film marks another significant Telugu project for the actor, who has previously appeared in films such as Kalyanam Kamaneeyam and Zebra, besides the web series Dhootha.

While Telugu cinema represents an important part of her career, Priya’s roots and much of her filmography remain firmly connected to Tamil cinema.

Her decision to take on Irumudi, however, appears to have been driven by the material rather than simply the scale of the project.

Priya says she has developed a habit of looking for scripts where her character has a genuine purpose within the narrative.

That approach has become one of the defining features of her career.

Why Priya avoids decorative roles

In an industry where female characters can sometimes be positioned primarily around the male protagonist, Priya has deliberately tried to avoid roles that exist only to provide glamour or visual appeal.

“My effort has always been to choose films where my character is significant to the story, irrespective of the screentime. I’ve consciously avoided decorative characters,” she says.

The distinction is important for Priya.

She does not necessarily measure a role by the number of scenes or minutes she appears in. Instead, she looks at what the character contributes to the overall story.

A relatively smaller role can therefore appeal to her if it has narrative weight, while a larger role may not necessarily interest her if the character lacks substance.

That philosophy has allowed her to build a filmography that spans different genres and languages without being defined solely by screen time.

A nine-year journey from news reporting to acting

Priya’s career in entertainment began after she had already experienced life in front of a television camera as a journalist.

She worked as a news reporter before making the transition to acting, a shift that eventually took her from television into Tamil cinema and then into projects across other industries.

Nearly nine years into her acting journey, the transition has given her a perspective that differs from someone who entered the industry directly through films.

Her experience as a reporter required her to communicate clearly, observe people and understand situations quickly. Acting, by contrast, required her to interpret characters and stories from within.

The two professions may appear very different, but both placed her in environments where observation and communication mattered.

Over time, Priya has established herself as an actor capable of moving between commercial films, character-driven stories and digital projects.

Telugu cinema has become another part of her journey

Although Tamil cinema has been her primary base, Priya has gradually become a recognisable face for Telugu audiences.

Her Telugu filmography includes Kalyanam Kamaneeyam and Zebra, while her work in the streaming space includes Dhootha.

With Irumudi, she is now part of a project led by Ravi Teja and Shiva Nirvana, two prominent names in Telugu cinema.

For Priya, working across languages has also meant being selective about the kind of characters she takes on.

Language alone is not enough to determine whether she accepts a project.

The character and its relevance to the narrative remain central to her decision-making.

That consistency has helped her approach opportunities across industries without abandoning the criteria she has established for herself.

Priya’s definition of a meaningful role

For Priya, a meaningful character does not necessarily need to be the protagonist.

This is an increasingly relevant distinction in contemporary Indian cinema, where actors are appearing in ensemble films and stories that distribute narrative responsibility among several characters.

Her emphasis is on significance rather than duration.

A character can have limited screen time but still influence the protagonist, change the direction of the story or carry an important emotional thread.

That is the kind of role Priya appears to value.

“I’ve consciously avoided decorative characters,” she says, underlining a career choice that has remained consistent despite the unpredictability of the film business.

She acknowledges that not every film she has chosen has worked in the same way.

“Some films may have worked, others may not have, but my effort has been constant,” she says.

That admission also reflects the reality of an actor’s career: choosing carefully can improve the odds of finding strong material, but it cannot guarantee the commercial or critical outcome of every project.

Irumudi arrives with strong expectations

The release of Irumudi adds another chapter to Priya’s Telugu journey.

The film is directed by Shiva Nirvana and stars Ravi Teja, with Priya as part of its principal cast. Its August 21 theatrical release puts it among the latest projects to attract attention from Telugu film audiences.

Priya’s unusually strong endorsement of the film has naturally added to the curiosity surrounding it.

Her statement that Irumudi could rank among the best Telugu films in recent years is particularly notable because it comes from an actor who has experienced the process of selecting and working on projects across multiple industries.

Ultimately, audiences will decide where the film stands once it reaches theatres.

For now, Priya’s confidence suggests that she sees something distinctive in the film’s script, storytelling or overall execution.

From television journalism to the big screen

Priya Bhavani Shankar’s career trajectory remains one of the more interesting aspects of her professional story.

She began in news reporting before moving into television and eventually establishing herself in films. The transition required her to reinvent herself professionally while learning the demands of acting.

Nearly a decade later, she has built a career that is no longer restricted to one medium or language.

Her choices indicate that she is more interested in the quality and relevance of a role than in simply accumulating credits.

That approach may mean that her filmography does not follow the conventional path of an actor constantly seeking larger or more glamorous parts. Instead, she appears to be building it around characters that leave an imprint on the story.

What comes next for Priya Bhavani Shankar

With Irumudi, Priya continues to expand her presence in Telugu cinema while maintaining the career philosophy that has guided her since her early years as an actor.

Her willingness to reject decorative roles, accept characters based on narrative importance and work across languages has become a consistent part of her professional identity.

Whether Irumudi ultimately fulfils her prediction remains to be seen, but her confidence in the film is unmistakable.

After nine years in the industry, Priya appears less interested in chasing visibility for its own sake and more focused on finding work that gives her something meaningful to perform.

For an actor who began her professional life reporting the news, that evolution—from observing stories to becoming part of them—has become the defining arc of her career.