The khaki wave is sweeping across Tollywood, and this time, it’s the women who are wearing it with pride and purpose. Kannada actress Srinidhi Shetty, best known for her role opposite Yash in the KGF series, makes a powerful Tollywood debut in HIT 3, playing a fiery cop with some high-octane action scenes. She joins the growing league of leading ladies like Meenakshi Choudhury, Tamannaah, Keerthy Suresh, and Anupama Parameswaran who have taken on intense cop roles in films like Sankranthiki Vasthunam, Akhri Sach, Siren, and ‘Tillu Square’ respectively.Reflecting on the shift, actress Payal Rajput, who played a police officer in Rakshana, shares, “Cop roles are mostly reserved for male stars. So when one comes to an actress, it’s an opportunity worth seizing. Wearing the khakis and portraying the gravity of a police officer is a serious responsibility. I underwent specific training to get my action sequences—punches and kicks—right. Today, cop roles are being written with more depth, making them more human and relatable.”Similarly, actress Nandita Swetha, known for her rugged portrayal of a tribal cop in Mangalavaram, says, “I chewed paan and used strong language in a very rooted way, after extensive practice with the director and writer. It was important to get the authenticity right.” She has also donned the cop avatar in films like IPC 376 and Hidimba. “Some say I fit into the uniform naturally and carry it with grace. Playing a cop is a matter of pride because we often look up to police officers in real life. Emulating them on screen is fulfilling,” she adds with pride.Director Hemanth Madhukar emphasizes the preparation actresses undergo to convincingly portray cops. “It’s not just about wearing the uniform. They shed weight and train hard to embody the role. The return of veteran actress Vijayashanti in Arjun S/o Vyjayanthi is significant—she’s a trailblazer who set the benchmark in the 1990s with films like Kartavyam and Satruvu,” he says. He confirms she once again stepped into a cop’s shoes for her film ‘Arjun S/o Vyjayanthi’, bringing the same intensity and commitment.Producer Tikka Mohan credits Kajal Aggarwal’s performance in Satyabhama for reviving the trend of female cop roles in Telugu cinema. “Kajal underwent a total transformation for the role and brought a fiery presence to the screen, subtle but impactful, and revived the trend of woman cop stories,” he notes.With more actresses stepping into action-packed, uniformed roles, Tollywood is witnessing a refreshing shift where the khaki is no longer just a male domain. These divas are not only challenging stereotypes but also redefining power and grit on the big screen, concludes Hemanth.
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