The 'Bad Girl' Returns To Films

'If I had the chance now, I would have continued acting.' 'The cultures of Maharashtra and Bengal are different and I felt I had to give my best to be a good daughter-in-law and an ideal wife.' 'I never thought I could balance both.'

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Shanthi Priya, probably best known for starring in Akshay Kumar’s debut film, Saugandh, returns to Tamil cinema after 35 years.

This week, she will be seen in Anurag Kashyap and Vetrimaaran’s Tamil film, Bad Girl, where she plays a housewife.

Last seen as Suniel Shetty’s sister Bonamma in the OTT series Dharavi Bank, “I don’t want to be a prop. If you want me just for my name, I expect good payment. I’m very clear -- either give me a meaningful role or pay me well.”

What made Bad Girl Director Varsha Bharath approach you for a Tamil film after 35 years? Was it because of Dharavi Bank?

I have always kept a low profile. I don’t make announcements or seek media attention. Even with Dharavi Bank, most people didn’t realise I was a part of it. Only when the character Bonamma stood out did people say, ‘Oh, Shanthi Priya played that role.’

As for Bad Girl, honestly, I don’t know what made Varsha think of me.

I’d been open to Tamil projects for a couple of years. There were offers from television, but I wasn’t interested in returning through that medium.

Also, I don’t like the word ‘comeback’.

For me, doing a Tamil film after 35 years feels more like a rebirth.

When I met Varsha, I asked her what made her think of me.

She said when she narrated the story, she didn’t even realise I was Nishanthi. Down South, most people know me by that name because my early films were credited as Nishanthi.

She told me, ‘When I mentioned you to my mom as a candidate for Sundari Miss and showed her your photograph, my mom said, ‘Oh, that’s Nishanthi.’

So Varsha wasn’t specifically searching for me, she just came across my Instagram profile and found me interesting.