For her, it has been a cathartic experience. Hollywood actor Reem Kedem who plays the lead in the film Naval Enna Jewel , which also stars Shweta Menon, Anu Sithara, and Adil Hussain, says the role has been the biggest tour de force of her career, especially because of the parallels with her mother’s life.
The actor spoke to The Hindu about the film, her mother, and her journey in Hollywood. Edited excerpts from the interview:
Tell us about your growing up years
I was born and raised in an Iraqi family in San Diego, California. I started to get involved in theatre when about 14. In my early 20s, I moved to Los Angeles. I had to be secretive about my acting career as I did not think it would be accepted by my family. At one point, I had to decide what was important - my relationship with them or my passion. This really tested me. I realised that one has to follow one's heart, and those who truly love you will understand it later.
Writing is your other passion...
With writing, you are able to create your career in many ways and also you understand the vision of the story.
In LA, I got a degree in screenwriting, then started focussing on creating screenplays and getting attention with scripts. I also auditioned as an actress, trying different genres and playing different characters. In the last couple of years, it has taken off some more. I did TV, and a movie with James Franco called ‘Blood Run’ in which I play a gang member.
Tell us why you chose to play Naval...
My parents are from Baghdad. My mother went against Saddam’s Baathist regime in 1979. She was thrown in jail. Her younger brother was killed by the regime. Her father was in and out of jail. The role of Naval resonated so strongly because like her, my mother had to fight for human rights. Naval too is thrown in jail and her rights are stripped from her. As a woman, she feels betrayed by society. This connection between the role and my mother was interesting and poignant.
My mother's story inspired me so much that I wrote a movie about it and am working to get it produced in Hollywood.
Would you love to visit Iraq?
I have never been to Iraq. I would love to go back and see my parents’ homes but don’t know when that time will come. It is so unsafe right now. IS is a global threat. However, we cannot live in fear. We have to remember that one is not granted tomorrow. There is a balance between fear and living freely that one has to find to be able to have a happy life.
Tell us about the movie
I got the role after an international search. Once I was cast, I said I am going to learn Malayalam. There was audio transliteration... the script was broken down piece by piece ... there were three different recordings of my lines. I totally immersed myself in it - over four months of preparation, an average of 10 hours a day. However, towards the end, a Malayali actress had to dub for me, as some people to whom we showed the film thought they could not understand parts of what I was saying. However, it will hit the international market with my voice and English subtitles. We also shot an English version.
About playing Naval
Naval is not a typical Muslim women — she’s very educated, modernised, and an intellectual. She's a layered character, but goes through a hero's arc.
Naval is inspired by a real woman, a major name that cannot be revealed yet ... that alone is going to take our marketing campaign internationally on its own...
Playing Naval was the most challenging experience of my life. I gave it my heart and soul.
