“I want to say ‘Thank You' with folded hands to my Tamil audience,” says Hansika Motwani. She gears up for a dream Tamil film debut with Mappillai . Directed by Suraj, the movie from Sun Pictures banner is slated for release on April 8. “It's a great moment and I look forward to becoming a part of the Tamil film family,” she says.
The film, inspired by the Rajnikanth-starrer of the same name in the 80s, has Dhanush playing the mappillai with Manisha Koirala as his mom-in-law. The Rajnikanth film is best remembered for his style, dialogues, and the face-off between him as the upright son-in-law and the haughty mom-in-law played by the late Srividya.
Hansika is bowled over by the Tamil film industry. “It was wonderful working with Suraj, Dhanush and Manisha Koirala. The industry has noticed my work in Maappillai . Now, I have four big films in my kitty,” she says, sounding confident.
It's going to be a busy year ahead for Hansika as she has six back-to-back releases, four in Tamil and two in Telugu. Prabhu Deva's Engeyum Kaadhal , a romance, releases next month. “I play a modern girl from Paris,” says Hansika, adding, “Prabhu Deva is like an institute. There is so much to learn from him”.
In Velayudham , she is a village belle who romances Vijay. Up next is OK OK (Oru Kal Oru Kannadi) , which marks the debut of Udhayanidhi Stalin as hero.
Hansika is keen to do meaty roles and willing to experiment with different genres. “I consider myself lucky as I get to sport different looks right at the beginning of my career. I play a wife in Mappillai and a fun-loving North Indian Tamil girl in OK OK . Everything was offered on a platter,” says the excited newcomer.
She says the best of the technicians, scripts and actors are from the Tamil film industry.
For an actor, who began as a child artiste (she was one of the kids with Hrithik Roshan in Koi Mil Gaya ), appreciation from the audience matters the most. “They are my God,” she declares.
Director's actor
A director's actor, she works on her expressions. “I approach my roles with honesty and put in hard work to make the role shine. All the new actors are doing a wonderful job and there is space for everyone,” she says about competition.
Hansika declares she wants to look plump. “I don't want to diet and look thin and sick.”
Her mantra for success is ‘work hard and good work beckons'. She is happy with the grand opening she has got in Tamil films and wants to stay on and surprise the audience each time with her films.
What is she feeling right now? “It is like exam time. I have butterflies in my stomach.”
