There’s a bunch of actors from the 1980s who continue to make news every time they take up a project. If Revathy has wowed all with her role in Pa Paandi , Bhanupriya Kaushal is waiting to do the same in Bramma’s much-awaited Magalir Mattum . The trailer, where a car travels on a rainy road and you hear someone speaking about how she’s made 3,02,400 dosas so far, was proof enough that people still remembered the actor’s voice — flecked with laughter, enthusiasm and resignation. Remember Urmila’s voice in Indian? That was Bhanupriya’s.
Sometime in 1983, the Tamil and Telugu film industries discovered a teenager with arresting eyes. And so, Bhanupriya arrived, with Mella Pesungal and Sitara . She acted in a string of films in Telugu, before experimenting with Aaraaro Aariraaro in Tamil in 1989. There really has been no looking back since.
She performed in author-backed roles, explored her comic side, lent life to movies with her bubbly presence, and danced like a dream, be it classical or dabbankuthu . And then, she took a break to raise a family; there was television and the odd role, but nothing that generated the kind of interest Magalir Mattum has.
Excerpts from an interview:
What tempted you to take up Magalir Mattum ?
The minute Bramma narrated this script, I wanted to take it up. I’m doing something different from what I’ve done so far, and it’s refreshing to be part of a team that thinks out of the box. I’ve previously greenlighted projects that never turned out the way they were narrated; and so, I want to take my time signing new ones.
How was it to get back to films after a break?
It’s been 33 years since I first donned makeup as a 14-year-old. In fact, my first opportunity came when I was seven; my parents refused, saying I had to study. It’s been a very interesting journey, and I was never once bored with what I was doing. I guess it is because I took a break whenever I felt the need to. Be it marriage or raising my daughter, I did it with total involvement.
Do frivolous comments about ageing actors and their appearances bother you?
Not really. I’ve been on a strict diet and lived a regulated life for long. And, there came a time when I just wanted to relax, sit back, be a homemaker and watch my daughter grow. So yes, I gained weight for some years.
Did that phase help you touch base with regular people, after a star-spangled teenage and youth?
Yes, I would say. I did regular things, but I never regretted what I did. With age, we are more accepting of what each phase of life demands of us.
Do you like the kind of films being written now?
Oh yes. Performance-wise, I was lucky to find some gems even when doing commercial cinema. Much of what’s being written these days is out-of-the-box. But, it’s not often that senior actors are offered good roles. I’m envious of what’s being written for women in Bollywood and Hollywood. “Something nuanced, layered...something that feeds the artiste. In fact, I think one of the reasons for the response to the Magalir Mattum trailer is that women are bonding on screen after a long time.
- Azhagan: I remember the scene where I had to dance and have an angry conversation with Mammootty. Kala Master took about two hours to choreograph it, and it was okayed in one take. KB sir patted me on my shoulder and said, ‘ Romba nalla panna ma ’.
- Swarnakamalam: After nearly 30 years, people still come up and speak to me about this delightful Telugu film, which won me a Nandi award. But, director K Viswanath is such a great actor, that if you manage to get even 50% of that, you’ll get a good name.
You were known for your stylish on-screen persona. Did you pick up fashion tips on the sets?
In the beginning, I went with whatever was given to me. When my daughter sees me in those movies, she closes her eyes and asks me what I was thinking when I wore those outfits. With time, I learnt what worked.
Any particular genre you’d like to explore now?
I’ve done a whole range of movies, even a film where I had a partly negative character. I’ve never done a full-blown negative role, probably because they felt my face would not suit such a character. My screen image was that of a bubbly person.
Are you like that in real life too?
Yes, but only with friends. I take time to open up. That is one reason I am off social media. Even interviews have to be face-to-face. I need to know whom I’m speaking to. That said, I like it when people come up to me and speak, but I also guard my privacy.
Everyone speaks about your eyes… what do you think are your strong points?
I’ll call myself a confident actor; I grasp things pretty fast and improvise. I did not realise why people loved my eyes till some years after I entered the industry. And then, in a movie, I saw my eyes speak on screen.
