I like my life spicy, just like my sambhar: Sahithya Jagannathan

“I’m a hugger,” she says, before giving me a warm hug. As we settle down for a conversation, which she says will be a long one as she is someone who can talk the hind leg off a donkey, I can’t help but notice the bruises on her arms. “I just shot for an endurance-based reality show on Vijay TV before coming here. I had to crawl through obstacles. Maybe I should get a TT after the calendar shoot this evening. I should at least get it cleaned up before a show I need to host tonight,” begins Sahithya, who seems to have quite a lot on her plate, both literally and figuratively. Isn’t that too much to squeeze into a day? 

“I get to live so many different lives in a day. I mean, I get to look like a Tamil ponnu and a Victoria’s Secret model the same day. While modelling is about bringing out someone else’s vision, my other pursuits let me express myself creatively. The idea is to never draw boundaries for yourself. And yes, I live out of a suitcase, but it’s just one life. So, just like my sambhar, I like my life full of spice,” muses the former Miss Chennai who is also a journalism graduate. 

Her most endearing quality, however, is that despite juggling multiple roles, she is quite informed about news and the happenings in the city and otherwise. From potty to Potter humour, and Vadivelu jokes to Trump bashing, she’s got it at her fingertips. 

Talking about wearing many hats, the popular model who has walked for several international brands, has recently embarked upon another journey, that of being a presenter for Pro Kabaddi. “There was a lot of research that went into it. I observed everyone who’s been part of the event. Now, I’m so well versed that I have my heart in my mouth every time I watch a match,” she muses.    

Sahithya has also appeared in a few films like Gautham Menon’s Neethane En Ponvasantham and R Parthiepan’s Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam in 2014. “There were many offers, but I wasn’t interested in what came my way after that. I don’t want to be someone who is a one-film wonder or just run around the trees looking pretty. 

I’d love to do roles like Ramya Krishnan’s in Padaiyappa or something dark and twisted,” she muses. As she continues to straddle myriad roles, did she ever think she’d do any of these growing up? “Are you kidding me? Not one bit. I’m a tomboy who grew up bonding over sport with my brother and his friends. I never thought I was pretty. 

Look what I’m doing now. However, one thing I’ve always been sure of was that I was a geek who’d give 200 per cent to anything I’d commit to,” she finishes before signing up for yet another exciting role, that of a writer with our publication. 

Vivacious, spunky and brutally honest 

Narendra Modi, because there’s so much I can do 

Anything by the beach 

I was shooting for a music video for AR Rahman and he was on the sets. I was wearing a lehenga and I was supposed to release a few doves into the air. There was a fan that was to create that windy effect. The fan operator accidentally increased the speed and I ended up flying a few feet with the birds. 

Eaten non-vegetarian food 

Get married