Matrimony has snatched many a good actress. Some return after acrimonious breakups to play supporting roles. You forget a few who disappear into oblivion but miss a Simran or a Jyothika not only for their unquestionable talent but their pleasant on-screen presence. Jyothika has designed her destiny, be it personal or professional. ‘36 Vayadhinile’ is eagerly awaited, purely because her fans get an opportunity to see her perform again. She’ll not go on a signing spree, but await a film that befits her talent and impeccable image.
I had accused Surya of snatching away a good actress.
Thank you, but it was a mutual decision. I tied the knot when I was 27. There’s a time and age for everything, so got married and had kids. There was no thought of returning to films for at least five years. It was all planned.
You quit at a high after winning accolades for ‘Vetaiyadu Vilayadu’ and ‘Mozhi’. Surya says he didn’t stop you from acting.
That was entirely my call. We were waiting for his family’s approval which took more than a couple of years. If we had got the nod earlier I wouldn’t have done those films. Marriage was the first priority. Luckily, those films came during the wait. As an artiste it took me to a high but I was not going to postpone the wedding. I didn’t miss work. I had my first child before our first anniversary.
So was it all worth giving up?
To be frank every bit of motherhood is worth it. I was very comfortable being away from cinema. I wonder why. The expectations my return is generating makes me realise I’ve not acted for eight years. The time was spent watching my kids grow and I didn’t have time to breathe. I’m hyper by nature. I like to take them to all the classes and their outdoor activities.
I don’t connect the word hyper with you. Has parenthood made you calm and composed?
Well, hyper in the sense I don’t like to leave them with a maid. I want to do everything for them myself. That’s a way of spending maximum time with them. I’ve eased up now since my daughter is eight. I’m still doing it for my son. I have become very composed. Post marriage there’s a lot of giving, be it time or energy. Your priorities become the last. You don’t make what you want to eat. It’s always about what the family wants. That’s not a complaint. It’s a joy.
Incidentally today’s Mother’s Day. Your mother pulled you out of school and put you in cinema which is strange. You only hear of parental opposition to joining cinema.
I’m very proud of what she did. Opportunities come to everybody at some point of time. In my case it was early. I was being offered work when I was in high school. She said it was my choice but wanted me to get out and work. If I had studied it would have been another ten years. I’m proud because I took the right decision. I’d have been educated but how experienced in life I’d have been is a question mark.
You probably wouldn’t have met Surya.
Yes, I came to a strange city, learnt a new language and met Surya which is one of my biggest achievements. I’ve made a name for myself. Life has given me a balance. If the same happens to Diya and Dev I’d do likewise.
A Punjabi girl who studied in Bombay and came to Madras -- it must have been a struggle initially.
I was very young and still in the family cocoon so I held my mother’s hand. It was very fearful to step into the film industry where you’re the only female amongst a crowd of men. It was a new world but a great experience. My mother stuck around till she felt I was comfortable. She left me with a help and returned because I have a younger brother. Nagma, my sister too helped.
You eventually reached a stage where you could recommend Surya to a director.
(Laughs) We both started together. We were friends for a long time. That turning into love took five years. It just so happened that Gautam had signed me first for ‘Kakhkha Kakhkha’ and was looking for a hero. I mentioned Surya. He watched ‘Nanda’ and was impressed. It all fell in place.
Do you regret the fact that you didn’t learn Tamil to dub your lines?
Yes I do, and that’s with capital letters. There’s so much I want to convey even on shows. I’m facing the media after 16 years. I get self conscious using difficult words. It rolls in my mind in English and I translate into whatever Tamil I know. I keep asking Surya how I sounded. Conveying something should not sound like I’m preaching. Not dubbing has been a regret. I tried to dub for ‘36 Vayadhinile’. My dubbing was good but I didn’t sound like a middle-class Tamil girl. Accent is very important. Not knowing the language is a big minus.
You’ve lost a lot of weight. You didn’t seem to bother during your heydays.
That’s a state of mind with married women. It was not because I was making a comeback. You start aging fast after motherhood. You start looking different. I met the right people at the right time. My Yoga instructor Gayathri is very determined. I’ve been working out for the last six years. It was at a stage where I realised that I was married to Surya and couldn’t afford to look bloated. I’d put on thirty kilos. Once you start working out it’s an addiction.
If you did want to make a comeback in a heroine centric role there was ‘Kahaani’ and ‘Queen’. Why did you choose this film?
‘Kahaani’ was offered to me two years ago when I wasn’t keen. The project didn’t seem to have a good team. They came to sign me first and nothing seemed right. ‘Queen’ wasn’t offered to me. This film too came when I wasn’t too keen. My son is just five but it’s the message. It blew me because I identified with the character. I wanted the film to reach a wider audience.
Are you here to stay?
I haven’t planned anything. I will do films if they’re better than ‘36 Vayadhinile’. I’m not here for money. I will not bargain my precious time with my kids for cinema. It has to be worth the time.
Was revealing your age difficult?
We wanted an age related title. Other than being feminist, the film is about being proud of your age. I’m proud of my age. There was opposition but this seemed apt. Age is just a number and you should be proud. I’m sure I’ll be more proud when I’m fifty.
