UA Exclusive | Malavika Mohanan: I Think Majid Majidi Sir Is One Of The Best Filmmakers We Have In The World Today Not Just In Iran Or India

South Indian actress Malavika Mohanan is all set to step into the Bollywood industry with Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds opposite debutant Ishaan Khatter which is all set to release on 20th April, 2018.

 

UrbanAsian got a chance to interview the actress where she spoke about the movie Beyond The Clouds and what all she went through for the role.

 

1. What made you say yes to the role in Beyond The Clouds?

Well, firstly it wasn’t that I had to say yes, I was hoping to be a part of this film. It is a Majid Majidi film, so when the casting was happening a lot of actresses were pushing to do the film and I was one of them and I was really hoping that they like me and cast me for this. So like I said it wasn’t me saying yes it was them saying yes to me and I am so glad that Majidi Sir liked me and agreed to cast me in the film.

 

2. How did you prepare yourself for this film?

There were two kinds of preparation. One was the physical aspect – the look. So I worked personally on my make up. My skin has been made dusky. I had just let my eyebrows and my upper lips hair grow. I have been involved in little things like what kind of bindi to wear to what kind of earrings, because how you are dressed also says a lot about your character. I had to lose a lot of weight for the film. There was a sequence in the film so in 15 days I was asked to lose about 8 kilos. So it was not easy but I ended up losing 6-7 kilos. I had to work really hard on that. But it was for the character and for such a brilliant film I wanted to do it. And talking about the performance. Of course, I had to work really hard. We were being guided by Majidi Sir. Apart from knowing what a brilliant director he is, he is also known to get out real performances from actors.

 

3. How was it working with Majid Majidi?

It was brilliant. He is so good at what he does. I think he is one of the best filmmakers we have in the world today not just in Iran or India. I never thought I would get an opportunity to work with him so it is a dream come true. It has been amazing.

 

4. What did you get to learn from Majidi Sir?

Apart from the craft, apart from getting to know my craft better – work ethic. He is much disciplined, focused on work. And he wants everyone working with him to be disciplined and focused.

 

5. How is working in Mollywood different than working in Bollywood?

For me personally, I don’t find it different because working on this film felt like a family. I was very close to Shareen, who is one of the producers. I got close to Majidi Sir. He is very sweet, humble and fun loving person. And I even got close to Ishaan. He is my co-star so it became like a family. So it’s the same working in Malayalm film as well.

 

6. How was it working with Ishaan Khatter?

It was really good. We bonded really well. We went through this amazing journey where both of us were directed by this amazing director. The whole process made us bond very well. My character Tara plays a very integral part in the film but it is a very important relationship that Tara and Aamir (played by Ishaan) share. So this also helped us to bond well.

 

7. What’s next?

I am still in talks but right now my focus is only on Beyond The Clouds.