Acting... a temporary thirst - Kaushalya
In only two years, she�s made rapid stride as an actress both in Malayalam films and Tamil. However, unlike most other actresses, she�s already built up quite a reputation as one who�d flatly refuse mediocre roles. SCREEN profiles the remarkably self-assured, wise-beyond-her-years Kaushalya...In the last two years, the growth of Kaushalya as an actress has been phenomenal in terms of performance. Within a short span of time, she has come to be identified as an artiste who combines talent with glamour, without having to wear microminis or hotpants, or resort to crude, suggestive gyrations to stay at the top in the box-office.
Having started out with April 19, the Malayalam film directed by Balachandra Menon, she made her debut in Tamil with Shivashakti Films� Kallam Ellam Kathal Vazghe opposite Murali. While the first was a flop, the latter was a hit, and heralded the start of her career. Next came Vasanth�s Neruku Ner, which again brought her into the limelight. Subsequently, she was seen in Malayalam films as with Suresh Gopi in Lelam before resurfacing again in Tamil with the disastrous Jolly. But Sollamley with Livingstone proved she was far from down and out, even fetching her a lot of accolades for her performance. She has also fared quite creditably in the currently-running Pooveli, opposite Karthik.
The Bangalore-based Kaushalya was doing a stint in modelling and ad films when Menon cast her in April 19 as his heroine. He signed her on a contract for one year. Named Nandini for her debut film, her career began with a flop. So it was back to ad films for Kaushalya, and visits to Chennai on modelling assignments. It was then that an assistant of Balu Mahendra happened to see Kaushalya�s photographs. Soon, the director got interested in her. It took her quite a while to wriggle out of Menon�s contract, and Menon reluctantly agreed to release her, on the condition that she would not work in Malayalam films before the stipulated contract period expired.
�My folks were not too keen on my taking up a film career. But once they were satisfied that the role was good and there was nothing vulgar about it, they agreed to let me,� says the young actress. But Kaushalya has stuck to her resolve not to accept roles that demand the shedding of clothes. She feels even her leather jacket and tight pants in the song in Neruku Ner were �over glamourous,� and her fans too wrote in to tell her so.
�I accepted the role in Nerukku Ner because I was keen to show I could do justice to glamour roles too. Ditto for Jolly and Sollamley, too, where people told me I looked good in modern outfits, although, even in those films, I religiously abstained from the microminis. I admit there is a bathing scene in Pooveli, which is however tastefully done and, what�s more important, is very relevant to the storyline. As in Sollamley and Priyamudan, I shall continue to accept roles that are a blend of performance and glamour. No, you will never see me crossing the limits of decency,� promises Kaushalya.
Her forthcoming films in Tamil are Penn Onu Kandathean with Sathyaraj, and a film with Murali. In Malayalam, she has Aval Katha Ezuthunnu with Mohan Lal and another with Mukesh. �In Malayalam films, I�ve acted with Suresh Gopi in Lelam, Mammotty in Thachiledathu Chundan and Lal in Katha Ezuthunnu. So I guess that makes me the only heroine to co-star all three superstars,� laughs Kaushalya.
In Pooveli, her role as the young widow who play-acts as Karthik�s wife to keep her father in good humour, and slowly falls in love with Karthik, only to discover that he is already in love with another, has gone down well with the audience. She has managed to bring out the frustations of the girl who is not able to tell her story to anyone. After her first success, she has been beseiged by offers, but she has signed only a few. �I heard 12 stories in two days, and signed just one. The reason? Well, to tell you the truth I have few aspirations. I�d rather sit at home idle for six months, waiting for a good role, than take up every which offer I get. For me, films are a hobby, a temporary thirst. I wonder if you�ve noticed, of my six releases, all except one ran for 100 days. film. Being choosy means not so much waiting for the arthouse kind of film, as those that are a blend of art and the commercial element. I�d rather avoid both extremes,� opines Kaushalya. Talk about realistic dreams!
When she is not shooting, she reads a lot of magazines and newspapers or listens to music. She detests the disco culture, and the tipsy crowds that throng them, preferring to party with her small circle of friends, instead. She describes herself as a �blabbermouth,� one who doesn�t hesitate to speak her mind. Ever the self-assured, confident sort, she even goes to distant locations with only her makeupwoman in tow, unlike most other actresses, who take their mothers along. Says Kaushalya, �Only mothers who have nothing else to do, or don�t trust their daughters enough, would want to hang around on the sets. The industry isn�t such a bad place if you know what you�re doing.�
Getting philosophical, Kaushalya says, �My friends keep me down-to-earth and humble, pointing out my flaws to me, and even advising me on my roles. Thank God for friends like those, who�re not interested in me only because I�m an actress.� As for money, she says she�d rather not have too much or too little of it. �Too much or too little of everything is soul-destroying,� she tells you.
Courtesy: Screen : The business of entertainment