Keerthy Suresh has received appreciation for her portrayal of Bhavani in the series Akka, with her performance combining fierce action, emotional vulnerability and a commanding screen presence. Director Dharamaraj Shetty has now revealed that the actress contributed her own ideas to the character’s action sequences, including the distinctive style in which Bhavani uses a hairpin to kill her enemies.
In a conversation about the series, Shetty spoke about the casting process and the qualities required to bring Bhavani to life. He said the character demanded an actor capable of convincingly portraying two contrasting personalities — a queen with a gentle and forgiving side and a gangster capable of displaying aggression and ruthlessness.
According to the director, Keerthy successfully balanced these contrasting shades, making both sides of Bhavani believable. He also praised her contribution to the action sequences, pointing out that the actress brought elements of her own personality into the character’s physical style.
Keerthy impressed director with Bhavani’s dual personality
Bhavani is a character built around contrasting identities. As a queen, she has a softer and more composed personality, while her gangster side requires her to be fierce, assertive and physically intimidating.
Shetty explained that casting the role was challenging because the actor needed to convincingly portray both dimensions without making either appear forced.
Speaking about Keerthy’s performance, the director said, “Any actor playing Bhavani’s character needed to embody the duality in the character of being a queen and a gangster, a character with a gentle, forgiving side and also a harsher, fierce side. And Keerthy Suresh played this perfectly. She is 100 percent believable when she plays the soft side and equally convincing when she is kicking ass.”
His comments highlight the importance of the actress’s performance in establishing Bhavani as a character who moves between authority, emotional restraint and aggression.
Rather than presenting the queen and gangster as two entirely separate identities, Keerthy’s portrayal brings both sides together within the same character. This contrast is central to Bhavani’s screen presence and the way she responds to different situations.
Hairpin killing style was Keerthy’s idea
While Shetty was confident about Keerthy’s acting abilities, he said watching her perform the action sequences was another rewarding aspect of working with her.
The director particularly appreciated the combination of grace and fierceness she brought to the physical sequences. He also revealed that the actress contributed ideas that helped shape Bhavani’s distinctive action style.
One of the most memorable examples was the character’s use of a hairpin as a weapon against her enemies. According to Shetty, the idea originated with Keerthy herself rather than being imposed on her by the filmmaking team.
He said, “There was no doubt about Keerthy’s acting skills, but what was exciting to see was her performing all the action. The grace and the fierceness with which she did them was fun to witness. She brought in so much of her personality to the action. For example, her signature style of killing her enemies with her hairpin was a brilliant idea that all came from her.”
The revelation offers an insight into the actress’s involvement in developing the character beyond her dialogues and performance. The hairpin technique became a distinctive feature of Bhavani’s action sequences, giving the character an unusual visual identity.
Shetty’s comments also underline how an actor’s creative contribution can influence the presentation of a role, particularly in a series where action and characterisation are closely connected.
Action and emotional depth shape Akka
With Akka, Keerthy Suresh takes on a character that requires her to move between emotional vulnerability and physical aggression. The role offers an opportunity to explore a wider range of expressions and screen presence, with Bhavani’s contrasting personalities forming the foundation of the narrative.
The director’s appreciation of her performance focuses not only on her ability to portray the character’s softer side but also on the conviction with which she handles the action portions.
For Keerthy, the role adds another distinctive character to a career that has included performances across different genres and languages. The National Award-winning actress has previously earned recognition for roles that demanded emotional depth and versatility.
Keerthy Suresh’s upcoming projects
Apart from Akka, Keerthy has several projects lined up, including Sathyavan Savithri, Rowdy Janardhana, Raftaar and January 12 Vidudala.
The upcoming slate is expected to see her explore different characters and genres. Her work in Akka, meanwhile, has drawn attention for the combination of performance and action, with the director’s latest remarks revealing how one of Bhavani’s most recognisable fighting techniques came directly from the actress.