My competition is with myself: Keerthy Suresh

Actress Keerthy Suresh says her competition is with herself as she believes actors cannot be compared because there's something different about each one of them.

"I'd like to compete with myself. More than comparing with somebody else, I'd prefer comparing my own work from film to film. I believe each actor is versatile and different so you can't compare them. All I need to worry about is have I done better than my previous film or not," Keerthy told IANS.

While she awaits the release of her Tamil debut "Idhu Enna Maayam", Keerthy already has five projects in hand.

She is not sure herself how she became so popular overnight.

The young actress is already feeling the pressure, but is happy for being welcomed into the industry even before the release of her first film.

"I have to admit that as much as I'm happy about my career now, I'm slightly scared, too," said Keerthy, daughter of yesteryear actress Menaka and well-known Malayalam producer Suresh Kumar.

For Keerthy, making inroads in cinema wasn't a cakewalk.

"The entry was, of course, easy, thanks to my parents and their connections, but to sustain is what mattered the most. I always wanted to act, but not because my parents were associated with the industry. Luckily, the offers came to me but not vice versa," said Keerthy, who started her career as a child artist in Malayalam film "Pilots".

At the behest of filmmaker Priyadarshan, Keerthy made her solo lead debut in 2013 Malayalam horror-comedy "Geethanjali".

"Initially, acting was more or less a hobby. In my second Malayalam film 'Ring Master', where I played a blind girl and worked really hard for my role, I realised acting was no longer my hobby. It also made me realise it didn't matter where I came from, but being an actress wasn't easy," she said.

Keerthy currently has Tamil films "Rajini Murugan", "Paambhu Sattai" and a yet-untitled project with Dhanush, besides Telugu outings "Aina Nuvvu Ishtam" and "Harikatha".

Her calendar is packed till September, and until one of her films releases, she has no plans to sign any new ones.

Unlike other southern actresses, Keerthy is being lauded for her proficiency in speaking Tamil.

Does she consider it a boon?

"I never thought speaking Tamil fluently is so much to be appreciated for. I never considered it a big deal because I talk Tamil as well as Malayalam at home with my parents. It was after I started working in Tamil industry, I realised how much of difference it can make. Everybody is happy that I am dubbing for all my Tamil films," she said.

Keerthy is at present busy dubbing for her Tamil films. She will join the sets of Dhanush's film from July.

(Haricharan Pudipeddi can be contacted at haricharanpudipeddi@gmail.com)