Here's the Tamil version of Miss Congeniality!

Ahaa!!

Deepa Venkat is Ms Congeniality. Hmm, what an achievement to have starred in more than 70 serials.

One can only wonder how she managed to do all that. Just imagine doing different dramas simultaneously. Hasn't she ever mixed up her lines during one drama shoot with another? I guess not from the look of her long list of credits.

Anyway, here's another article on her.
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Miss Congeniality
source: http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2007/01/29/stories/2007012900180500.htm

She has more than 70 serials to her credit. Meet Deepa Venkat

Deepa Venkat is on a roll. She is a busy actress who appears on prime time Tamil soaps thrice daily on weekdays. She plays varied characters. If she is the best friend of Abhi, the protagonist, in "Kolangal" (Sun TV, Monday to Friday 9 p.m.), she is the advocate, who fights against injustice, in "Saradhaa" (Raj TV, Monday to Thursday 9 p.m.). And in the late night serial "Soorya" (Sun TV, Monday to Friday 10.30 p.m.), she plays an investigative television reporter, who is brutally attacked and is now suffering from amnesia!

A popular face

Deepa is one of the most popular faces on the small screen who grew up with the advent of satellite television. She was in Standard Eight when she made her acting debut in K. Balachandar's serial "Kaiyalavu Manasu". Says Deepa: "It was Balachandar Sir who introduced me to television, while I was still at school. He said I have expressive eyes and gave me the friendly, girl-next-door image, which has worked to my advantage."

Deepa went on to do many serials (more than 70). At the same time, she pursued her studies and managed to finish schooling. Though she could not attend regular college, she has done MCA in Financial Management through correspondence. "The keystone of my success is education, which helps me understand and evaluate the roles I get." Deepa is also a successful dubbing artiste, who has lent her voice to the likes of Simran and Sneha. And now to Vidya Balan in the Tamil version of "Guru", for which she received a lot of praise from Mani Ratnam.

Deepa is able to strike a chord with millions of viewers by playing characters like Viji of "Chitti". "I have tried to be as realistic as possible, without being melodramatic. Now I am doing three serials in which I play entirely different characters. I make sure that my looks and even dialogue delivery are different."

As for Deepa's big screen dreams, she has given them up after doing a few not so significant roles. "It is my roles on TV, which have got me all the acclaim and recognition. The reach of television is awesome, and unless I get a meaty role I am not interested in doing films," signs off Deepa.

By SREEDHAR PILLAI