Better Late Than Never

Persistent, focussed and ambitious are three words that describe the 24-year-old AKSHARA HAASAN. Nothing can stop her committment to her work, not even ill-health. She looked pale and exhausted for this chat, yet, beautiful. She’s inherited her down-to-earth nature from her dad actor Kamal Haasan. One glance from this charming grey-eyed diva is enough to mesmerize you. The innocent artist has also tasted the bitter pills of being bodyshamed on social media, but we salute her blatant, unapologetic attitude towards these prejudices. She has tucked into her hat, the skill sets of a director, photographer, dancer, actor, and now, filmmaker too. Yes, this multi- talented actress took a long hiatus post her debut film Shamitabh, only to get a better opportunity in her upcoming film Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana.

- Gayatri Nirmal

You’ve worked as an assistant director earlier, are you still continuing with direction?

No. I stopped assisting in 2012, after that, I started focussing on acting. But post 2012, I assisted my father for Sabaash Naidu. This was the first time I worked as my father’s assistant director. Apart from that, nothing else. My focus is on acting and photography.

How did the tables turn? When did you realise that acting was your priority?

I still want to direct, but I also want to act.

So, if you get an offer to direct a feature film, would you take up the offer?

Yes. If I get a chance to direct, I would like to direct my own film, the one that I’ve written. Otherwise too, if I get an opportunity to direct, I will grab it, not let it go, and make the best out of it.

It’s a great accomplishment in itself to have written one’s own film at such an early age? Is the script ready?

Almost ready.

What made you take the quirky-titled film Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana?

You’ll saw me as a tomboy in Shamitabh, and I thought why not break the mould to the other extreme in my next. I grew my tresses to look more feminine, and I thought that comedy and romance would be nice genres to explore. If I may not know what kinds of films I want to do, but sometimes, these films appeal to me and I wouldn’t know if it would or not until and unless I tried these films. Apart from that, Laali actually had a very beautiful script. The characters, situations, and dialogues were too good. It just hit me. That’s why I agreed to do this film.