A role to kill for

We have heard the phrase “killing for a role” and here is one actress who was ready to do just that for a character.
Iti Acharya is a Rajasthani based in Bengaluru, acting in Kannada films. And despite not knowing any South Indian languages, she threw her hat in the ring when she heard her role in the Malayalam film Kerala Today directed by Kapil.

Iti says, “The film and my role are both very offbeat.” “I play Inspector Rekha Nair who is a very independent and strong woman who does not smile at all, and carries an attitude. I am not playing a conventional heroine who falls in love and dances around trees with the hero, but a cop who has action scenes and stunts to perform.”

The role and her experience have been very exciting as she says, “As actresses, we have very few chances of playing powerful roles and though the action sequences were tough, I loved the challenge.”

Iti has visited Kerala before but only as a tourist and the 25 days she spent for the film in Thrissur have left great memories. She says, “I got a chance to interact with the local people and eat the cuisine…it’s been a great bond.”

The makers of the film had spotted Iti in her cameo in the film Kili Poyi and had been trying to rope her in for the role for months before they established direct contact with Iti, and the rest is history.

Language barriers do not exist for the actor who shrugs off any obstacles. She says, “I am not someone who started acting randomly but instead was groomed to act from age three by my parents. I was active in plays and theatre, both in and outside of school, and learnt all dance forms including Kathak at a young age. The dance performances, theatre and plays gave me immense experience of emoting.”

She also adds, “Language is all in the head and you can convey feelings without speaking the language.” Iti recalls a group activity in theatre that involved the members blabbering words and phrases, which the other person had to interpret and reply back in the same way. Here it was not language at play but emotions that spoke and conveyed meanings.
Iti is also part of two Bollywood films, The Cinema Hall opposite Ajaz Khan, and an independent film Satyavathi.