I've been waiting for such a quirky character :TOI

I've been waiting for such a quirky character

Actress Kamalinee Mukherjee is all set to revisit the Malayalam film industry with V K Prakash's next, Netholi Cheriya Meen Alla

Parvathy S Nayar

This Bengali actress has been lucky enough to act with biggies down south, including Mammootty, Kamal Haasan, and more recently, Tollywood superstar Nagarjuna. All set to revisit Mollywood a second time after her impressive debut in the industry with Kuttisranku, actress Kamalinee Mukherjee tells Kochi Times about being a part of V K Prakash's next, Netholi Cheriya Meen Alla, her directorial dreams and more…
How come it took you so long to come back to M-Town? Though I had been listening to scripts, I was waiting for a character as quirky as the one in VKP's Netholi Cheriya Meen Alla. It's not a one-dimensional character and has multiple shades to portray… something I'd call a mix 'n match type. Besides, I have to live up to the expectations people have of me post Kuttisranku. Mammootty, Kamal Haasan, Nagarjuna, and now, Fahadh Faasil. You seem to be getting paired opposite some of the most popular stars of the day. I don't know Fahadh personally but VKP has told me that he's a great actor, that he's currently one of the most-sought actors in M-Town, and that he's doing some great stuff out there. Yes, I'm looking forward to acting with him.
Is it Tollywood that keeps you busy these days?
Yes, the last film I did there being Shirdi Sai, alongside Nagarjuna. Myself a Sai bhakth, it was a different experience playing this character called Radhakrishna Mai, in a set that was teeming with Sai bhakths; Nagarjuna included. This is also my first devotional film.
Though you're part of five film industries, you debuted in Bengali much later.
I've always kept a lowprofile as an actress. I don't have a manager; never have I approached anyone for any role. The work that is offered to me comes from whatever films I've done earlier. Bengali is the fifth film industry I'm working in, although I'm a Bengali by birth. It took seven years after my first film for the debut closer home to happen. Interestingly, I debuted with a Hindi film — actor and director Revathy's Phir Milenge (the film centred on AIDS had her playing Shilpa Shetty's sister), but it's the south that has kept me busy as an actor.
Flitting from one industry to another must be challenging.
I don't see it as a difficult job, but I'd rather see it as a challenge. Sometimes, I wake up to dialogues in different languages running in my head (laughs)! Now I'm comfortable with Telugu; as in, I understand the language.
Coming up…
My directorial debut. I've always wanted to direct a film and am now working on it. It'll be a Bengali flick — about life in Kolkata.
parvathy.nayar@ timesgroup.com

SECOND COMING: Kamalinee Mukherjee