Malayalis, who have seen the growth of young talented artistes from Kalabhavan academy, have not failed to notice a young starlet named Thesni Khan, who grew up alongside all the big names of the industry and pulled off comedy at ease. Part of Mollywood for 28 years, Thesni has shared screen space with big names and has immortalised various comic characters. Still fresh from her outing as a jail inmate in Dileep-starrer Welcome to Central Jail, she is waiting for her next movie Thoppil Joppan to hit the screens.
On her role in the film, she says “Thoppil Joppan has four close buddies to whom he listens to. I play the ‘complaint box wife’ of one of those characters played by Pashanam Shaji (Saju Navodaya).” Going back to her role in Welcome to Central Jail, she says, “The script writer felt that it would be good to pick a few experienced artistes for the role rather than filling the space with just junior artists. So, I came in.” As a woman who dons comic avatars, how difficult is it to survive in the industry? Thesni says, “I give my best performance in all my roles.”
“If the role clicks and people appreciate it, I am very happy. But when it comes to comedy roles, men always have a preference. Female actors these days do not get a space like what Kalpana chechi used to get. A few scriptwriters write really good dialogues and how we present it decides audience reception.”
So, was there any role written for her? She says, “There was only one character written for me — Kanyaka Menon in Trivandrum Lodge. When I played a small role in the movie Beautiful, my character was noticed and then Anoop Menon told me that he will be penning a character apt for me in his next movie. No other such roles have come to me; I don’t think I have grown up enough for that,” she smiles. Currently, she is shooting for Siddique’s Fukri. An elated Thesni explains, “I am working in Siddique sir’s movie after 22 years. I last worked with him in Godfather.” Thesni will also be seen in Ayal Jeevichiripundu.
