Familiar face in the South, 26-year-old Mamta Mohandas is ready with her first Tamil movie, ‘Thadaiyara Thaaka’, after her wedding in December. Recent releases like ‘Arike’, starring Dileep and ‘Njanum Ente Familiyum’, starring Jayaram, have put her back in the game and the singer/actress is certain that her action drama with Arun Vijay, scheduled for June 1, will make the cut.
In a quick interview, she tells us about her priorities and why she might come across as arrogant:
What do we need to know about ‘Thadaiyara Thaakka’?
Magizh Thirumeni, the director, made my role very different. This is the first time I am acting with Arun and it was great working with him. It is a love story, but not all love stories end well. There are so many things that can stop two lovers from being together. The second half of the movie is fast and was shot in the night.
Arun is yet to make it big in the industry. Have you taken a risk by working with him?
He is talented and has been around for some time, but stars are not the deciding factor for a movie. I see so many amateur actors working in the Tamil and Malayalam film industry and have acted with a few big people but want to act with new actors as well. The new middle-aged actors have a different attitude towards cinema, which is refreshing.
Why have you been so selective about Tamil films?
I cannot do a movie if it does not excite me and I am particular about my payment too. I have never tried to publicise myself or hang around in Chennai or meet directors to get a job. I am not being over-confident but I know that if I market myself, I can bag more roles.
Industry insiders call you arrogant. Comment.
The kind of movies that directors come to me with are different and I like that. ‘Padmasree Bharat Dr Saroj Kumar’, the Malayalam film released in January, is a very interesting movie. The lead actor Sreenivasan called to ask me if I will do the role with him and I agreed. I am not arrogant but easygoing when it comes to films. If I do not like a script, I ask for it to be reworked. I have made mistakes before and have missed big movies because I was new to the industry.
What comes first these days, acting or singing?
I have been exposed to recording studios and music for a long time, but I do not sing on a professional basis and do not ask for remuneration. When a director asks me to sing for a movie I am acting in, I do it because I love singing.
Which industry do you prefer?
I have been comfortable in all three industries. At one point, I was prominent in the Telugu industry and was lucky to work with S S Rajamouli. Then I moved to Tamil and worked with Rajinikanth in ‘Kuselan’. I have set my base in Kerala now and the movies I have chosen have been successful.
Director wish list?
I would love to work with Shankar, Mani Ratnam or Priyadarshan in the Tamil industry.
Favourite singer: Shreya Ghoshal. I wish I were a pop star in Hollywood, like Rihanna or Beyonce.
Travel addict: When I am with my husband at an airport, I like to discover every corner of the place. He walks fast, so I struggle to catch up with him.
Coming up: My next film, ‘The Boss’, is with actor Dileep. It is a comedy.
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