South Cinema actresses are making their presence felt in the North Indian glam world. After the success of Asin and Genelia in Hindi Cinema, their counter parts back here are unable to concentrate on regional films. Heroines are flocking into the Bollywood to find a nest there. The rough looking actress Padmapriya is making her debut in Bollywood with upcoming flick Striker.

Striker is a period film, based on the life of a carom board striker. It is an account of real lives that’s fictionalized. The story was developed on the life and times of a real-life carom whiz from the slums of Malavni named Suryakant. Unlike Dharavi, which is a planned slum, people and communities from all across Mumbai who were homeless just came together on this slum. Malavni was more a refugee camp than a slum where Carom is a way of life and Lakhs of rupees go into betting over the game.

Tamil-Telugu actor Siddharth acts the protagonist as the carom player Surya. Being acted in Tamil films like Boys and Aayutha Ezhuthu, Siddharth is not new to Bollywood as he was part of the mega hit Rang De Basanti.

Siddharth has denied several good offers from Mumbai including Rakeysh Mehra’s Delhi 6 and David Dhawan’s film for UTV. He has been preparing for the new challenge and now has become an expert at carom. He has met the real-life Suryakant several times and has spent time in Malavni getting the feel of the place. He speaks very fluent Hindi as he has spent a large part of his life in Delhi and Mumbai though he functions from the south.

Talented director Chandan Arora is directing the movie. Striker is the third movie by Arora, whose previous ventures were the sentimental Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon and Main Meri Patni Aur Woh.
The other star cast includes Chak De India fame Vidya Malvade, Nicolette Bird, Seema Biswas and Aditya Pancholi. Padmapriya would be seen portraying the character of a bar owner.

Padmapriya made the name of good actress with her debut in Malayalam film Kazhcha starring Mammooty which was also director Blessy’s first directorial venture. Padmapriya made her presence in Tamil with Thavamaai Thavamirundhu. Now she is shooting for director Cheran’s Pokkisham, love story between Muslim woman and a Hindu man.

Striker, which was supposed to start rolling in 2008, got delayed due to un availability of call sheet. When this slum dog kid meets for a game challenge many eyebrows are sure to rise.

After Chak De India and Goal, viewers are waiting for Striker. Hope it does well.