‘Kamal uncle treats everyone on the sets with reverence’

Chennai: For a 13-year-old, Esther Anil is quite a star, considering the huge success of both the Malayalam, and later, the Telugu versions of Drishyam. But the teenager takes a backseat when she’s asked about her stardom. She muses, “I don’t take my stardom too seriously. I’m just like any regular girl my age. Even in school I’m treated like the other kids, which is something I enjoy. But yes, it gets crazy at times in public with people mobbing you.”

Esther Anil is currently shooting for the Tamil version of Drishyam, titled Papanasam. She says, “It’s a dream come true, acting with Kamal (Haasan) uncle and Gauthami aunty. And making my debut in Tamil cinema with these two veterans is an honour. Kamal uncle is an amazing human being. He’s humility personified. Right from the spot boys to the lead actors to the technicians, he treats everyone with respect. I was initially apprehensive of how I’d bond with Gauthami aunty, because during the first photoshoot, she didn’t talk much as she was busy with deciding on everyone’s costumes. But later, it was great fun on the sets. We got really close.”

Of the things she learnt from Kamal, she says, “He told me, ‘If you want to achieve something in life, work towards it with all your heart and you’ll get it if it’s meant for you. But if you don’t get it, don’t be disheartened!’ This is one thing which I would never forget in life.” She further adds that she’d love to be a part of the Hindi remake of Drishyam.