Shot to fame

Aishwarya Devan tells how a Facebook picture of hers led her to the silver screen

Aishwarya Devan

Popular social network Facebook has played various roles in people’s lives: reconnecting friends, bringing marriage proposals, receiving job opportunities… For Aishwarya Devan, it has helped her shoot to fame. A photograph on Facebook drew attention of not one, but two directors – Gautam Patnaik and Deepan.

If Gautam’s interest in her led to her starring in his movie Yuvan , Deepan introduced her to Shaji Kailas who cast her in his movie Simhasanam . She played a Bangalore-based girl who, after her Plus Two, enters college in both her movies. “I had just completed class 12 and was planning on college when I was cast for both the movies; thus I could relate to the characters,” says the Bangalore-based actor, who is currently doing her bachelor’s degree in English literature via correspondence.

As a child, Aishwarya would watch starry eyed as her favourite actors Mohanlal and Shobana brought various characters to life on the silver screen.

Kilukkam and

Manichitrathazhu , which star the actors, are her favourites. And although she nurtured dreams of becoming an actor herself, she never expected it to turn to reality. “None in my family had any connections with the film industry. I always thought I would become one of my back-up ambitions, a fashion designer or a model,” says Aishwarya, whose mother, Sheeja Devan hails from Shornur. “My father, S. Devan, is from Bangalore.”

Aishwarya is no stranger to Mollywood. After

Simhasanam , she has gone on to act in Bala’s The Hit List and Major Ravi’s Karma Yodha.

The lithesome actor, who credits her figure to her strict diet and exercise, recently played Jennifer Mary Tony in Shahid Khader’s Chennaiyil Oru Naal, a remake of Rajesh Pillai’s Traffic . “I did the role Roma enacted in Traffic .”

Each of the characters she plays are close to her heart, she says, although she admits to holding

Karma Yodha closer as it stars Mohanlal. “Working with Mohanlal has always been a dream. I love how getting into the skin of the character is second nature to him – effortless. Although I didn’t have much combination scenes with the actor, it was definitely a learning experience. I also got more of a chance to prove myself as an actor in the film.”

And that is the kind of roles the actor seeks – roles of substance. “As long as I get a chance to demonstrate my acting prowess, I don’t mind if I’m there for just one scene,” she says.

The actor will be showing off her acting skills in V.K. Prakash’s upcoming Thank You . She plays Shruthi, a TV journalist who is investigating a story. “Shruthi is a senior reporter at the channel she is working for. She is researching an incident that has happened in the city. She is bold and adventurous,” says Aishwarya will be donning the role of an actor in Senthil Kumar’s Red Carpet , next.

Style mantra

* Aishwarya prefers wearing short dresses.

* Red and black are her favourite colours.

* She loves accessorising her wear with chunky finger rings and handbags.

* Not comfortable in flats, the actor wears only high heels.