‘I am a director’s actor’: Aishwariya Lekshmi

Aishwariya Lekshmi, the heroine of the Amal Neerad-film Varathan, on her tryst with tinsel town

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Onam 2017 introduced a new star to the Malayalam cinema marque — Aishwariya Lekshmi. As Rachel, Aishwariya made her presence felt as the girl next door opposite Nivin Pauly in Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela .

Then, towards the fag end of 2017 came

Mayaanadhi , a film that flowed against the current of Malayalam cinema and unleashed a flood of discussions about changing campuses and social mores of youngsters in Kerala.

Riding the wave of appreciation were its young stars Aishwariya and Tovino Thomas. The lissom Aishwariya, a doctor-turned-model-turned-actor, stole hearts as the vulnerable but pragmatic Aparna, a.k.a Appu. Not an easy role for any actor, Aishwariya trumped her act with her emotionally-battered Appu, who battles her own demons while shouldering many responsibilities.

This Onam, the lass from Thiruvananthapuram would be back on the screen as Priya in Amal Neerad’s Varathan . Along with many updates about the flood, her Facebook page is filled with stills of the film and she posted some time ago: “Varathan, For the love of Fahad faasil ! Hit that like button guys and keep following for more updates ....”

She does not stint on her excitement when she gushes: “I could not believe it when Amal sir cast me in his movie, that too in the lead opposite Fahadh Faasil. I had met him before the filming of

Mayaanadhi and he was one of the persons who fleshed out Appu and styled the character. His attention to detail was evident even then. While the team was trying to decide how Appu should look like, it was Amal sir who felt that Appu should have curly hair during her student days when life was a song,” she recalls.

Aishwariya Lekshmi and Fahadh Faasil in a still from ‘Varathan’

Getting the opportunity to work with the avant-garde director with his trademark style is something she treasures. So, who is Priya, her character in Varathan ? “It is an intense story and each frame has something for the viewer. Priya and Abin, Fahadh’s character, play a couple and it shows a woman’s perspective in a relationship. All Malayalis will be able to relate to it as it is a very Malayali film,” she says with a laugh, not quite willing to add more about her character or her story.

If Aishwariya was filled with doubts about her acting during the making of Mayaanadhi , Varathan , she says, will see a more confident actor as she has become more familiar with the camera and the process of cinema.

“I am a director’s actor. I don’t want to bring my inputs or thoughts when I am doing a role and I would like the director to guide me while breathing life into a character. In this case, Amal sir was very clear about who Priya is and how she would be in each scene. I had no difficulty in living as Priya though I was nervous about working with such a brilliant team,” she admits.

Although Aishwariya plays down her acting chops and gives all credit to her nuanced role in Mayaanadhi to director Aashiq Abu and scriptwriters Shyam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair, the fact remains that the three-film actor has been able to hold her own in the well-crafted film.

Busy with her next, the 27-year-old will next be seen in Jiss Joy’s Vijay Superum Pournamiyum with Asif Ali. “It is again a girl-next-door character and is a romantic thriller from the makers of Sunday Holiday and Bicycle Thieves . I am trying to diversify my characters and also listening to scripts in Tamil and Telugu,” she adds.

In the meantime, modelling continues to keep her busy.

Home sweet home

Daughter of government officers, Aishwariya still calls Thiruvananthapuram her home. She studied in Holy Angels Convent (ICSE) and opted to study medicine. While in college, she got the opportunity to model after appearing as the cover girl of a Malayalam magazine. A few auditions later, Aishwariya made her way to tinsel town via Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela .

Short takes

I am a foodie and enjoy eating almost anything. It is a challenge to balance my love for food and my professional need to keep fit.

I binge-watch Netflix and am a complete movie addict.

I want to be a medical practitioner and have bought all the books to prepare for the NEET examination to gain admission to do my postgraduation in medicine. The only problem is finding the time to spend time with books.

I was a regular student and a fan of movies but never did I dream I would be on screen, working with people I have admired greatly. Neither my parents nor I ever thought I would be in films.