SHE GREW UP AMIDST ARDENT ARTISTS, HER MOM BEING A PROFESSIONAL SINGER AND HER DAD BEING A RENOWNED MUSIC DIRECTOR. SO IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT DANCE AND MUSIC WERE AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF HER LIFE; WHICH IS ALSO WHY EXPRESSING ART COMES NATURALLY AND EFFORTLESSLY TO THIS YOUNG STARLET. AS A CHILD ARTIST, HER RENDEZVOUS WITH THE CINEMA STARTED WHEN SHE WAS JUST 13 AND SOON, QUITE UNEXPECTEDLY, SHE GOT A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH FAHADH FAASIL IN ‘MAHESHINTE PRATHIKARAM’. THE MOVIE WENT ON TO BECOME A SUPER HIT AND HER CHARACTER, ‘JIMSY’ BECAME SO POPULAR THAT TO THIS DAY, PEOPLE RECOGNISE HER BY THAT NAME. SHE WON ACCOLADES NOT JUST FOR HER DEBUT PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO FOR HER MELODIOUS PLAYBACK SINGING IN THE MOVIE. RITZ CATCHES UP WITH THE YOUNG, CHIRPY AND VERY TALENTED, APARNA BALAMURALI, WHO IS BUSY JUGGLING PROJECTS IN MALAYALAM AND TAMIL.
‘Minnal Jimsy’ definitely didn’t seem like your first outing as a heroine - you seemed so confident. How close is that character to you in real life?
As a child, I did so many performances on stage that I lost most of my stage fear. So though it was my first project, I didn’t have any inhibitions or tensions while facing the camera, it felt like another performance. The director, Dilesh Pothen was very clear that he wanted my acting to be spontaneous, so even the dialogues were given to me just before each scene. I think that added to the natural feel. As far as the character Jimsy is concerned, I don’t think I am as bold as her in real life. In fact, whenever I meet someone for the first time, I am very conscious. I guess you could call it a ‘starting trouble’! (she grins). But once I am comfortable and settled, I am very conversational and open about my opinions.
Has the character pushed you into a stereotype? You seem to be doing a lot of strong female characters…
I must admit that ‘Jimsy’ paved the way for a bold element in most of my roles. But all the characters I portrayed were very different from each other. Be it a journalist, an auto driver or a working professional - I could relate to each of these characters; so while there has been variety, it’s been comfortable too. Only for my role as an auto driver, I had to do some homework, as it was a character that was totally different from what I had seen or experienced. But yes, moving away from ‘bold’, I just completed a project in Tamil where I am playing a simple village belle. So you will be seeing me in a different avatar soon.
What has been the most memorable compliment you have received so far?
This story is from the December 2017 edition of RITZ.
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This story is from the December 2017 edition of RITZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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