Yashika Aannand was a relative newcomer in Tamil cinema when she entered Bigg Boss Tamil Season 2. The actor was a popular Instagram influencer and model, as she developed a modern-day blueprint for aspirants in the industry to develop a massive fan base on social media — much before signing her first film. “But you know, all my Instagram followers are mad at me today for not keeping in touch with them since I started working in movies,” laughs Yashika. “I try to do a ‘live’ with them, but some followers keep video-calling me and ruin the whole experience. But social media really did kick-off my career,” she adds.
After a few minor roles, she hit it big with the horror-comedy Iruttu Araiyil Murattu Kuththu last year, which quickly led to another in the same genre, Zombie , releasing this week. “I know what it looks like,” she laughs, adding, “But Zombie really isn’t the same. We are trying to invent a whole new genre here; it hasn’t been much explored in Tamil cinema except in Jayam Ravi’s Miruthan . In fact, we have delved deep into the topic, showing audiences how zombies come to exist. I play a medical student in the film. With Yogi Babu in the fray, the film came to life brilliantly.”
The actor is pretty self-aware, knowing fully well that she could be perceived as a peripheral figure in movies, present only for the ‘pomp and glam’ quotient. “But that’s where I’ve been smart with my movie choices, making sure I play a pretty prominent role. Even in the Zombie trailer, I was surprised to see how much screen space the director has given me.”
She credits Bigg Boss Tamil for giving her the confidence. “I think Tamil audiences were initially shocked to see the kind of attitude I carried on the show. But they grew to accept me as a young millennial — one who takes decisions independently. That, I consider, real success. People learnt not to judge a book by its over, and accepted me wholeheartedly. So what if I wore a crop top and shorts? Women from traditional families call me their ‘daughter’ if they see me in public.”
But her biggest takeaway from the show? “After my eviction, Kamal Haasan told me that he hasn’t met anyone like me, and that he admires me. I don’t think he’s said that to anyone before!” she recalls.
Yashika is still close friends with two of her housemates from the reality show — Aishwarya Dutta and Mahat Raghavendra — the latter with whom she is doing her next film, Ivan Than Uthaman . “It’s a movie with a social message,” she says. She also has a special appearance in Bigg Boss Season 1 winner Arav’s Raja Bheema , and has bagged the role of a ‘simple girl’ in Umapathy Ramaiah’s tentatively titled Siruthai Siva . “It’s a film that is themed around MMA! You’ll understand the title when it releases,” she laughs.
Finally, who does Yashika think will win Bigg Boss Season 3 ? “Sandy master! He’s the most deserving by far.”
