Riythvika, the Tamil-speaking girl who wowed the audiences with her debut film Paradesi in Bala’s direction and later in Ranjith’s Madras and Kabali, is the latest one to take the ghost avatar in her upcoming flick Onaaigal Jakkiradhai. The dusky actress speaks to DC about putting up a scary-looking getup for a horror film, real-life spooky experiences, Rajinikanth complimenting her acting, future challenging films, etc.
“Onaaigal .....is a revenge saga of a ghost. Directed by JPR, the flick is adapted from one of his short films. Vishwanth who played an important role in Kabali essays the male lead. In fact, it was my long-time dream to portray a ghost!” Riythvika reveals.
The soft-spoken girl says that it took her hours to apply and remove make-up for the ghost avatar. “Every day, the make-up takes two-and-a half hours. The director wanted me to wear white contact lenses, but I had a few difficulties using it. So,there was yet another new attempt for my eye makeup. I also had long hair extensions.”
But the real challenge was while dubbing dialogues — “I have to change my modulation as well as my tone. Sometimes, I have to talk in a high pitched voice.”
On her real-life spooky experience, she says, “I didn’t encounter any ghostly experience recently. But, during my school days when I was in grade six, one day my friends and I went to the science lab. There we saw the frogs which were preserved in solutions for testing purposes. The sight was so frightening that it was haunting me for days! I feared that it might jump on me one day.” (laughs)
She says that her day was made when Rajinikanth told her that he liked her performance in Madras. “During the shooting of Kabali, Rajini sir said this. It was one of the best days in my life,” she quips.
Riythvika will also be seen as a hooker in highways in her forthcoming movie Torch Light. “It is not a routine film. I am happy to share screen space with Sada madam. Majid has directed the film. Circumstances make me a prostitute and irrespective of whether she likes or not — she has to carry on with it for survival. It is a bold role and I didn’t have any apprehensions accepting it. The character has a lot of scope for me to perform.”
Yet another film which is awaiting release is Maadu — “I’m paired opposite Kaali Venkat and the story revolves around the cow. I am really excited. It is directed by Brammanayagam.”
Ask her if she was not upset about not being part of Kaala, pat she replies, “ No, not at all! When I did Kabali I was tensed about the reception. Now, I am happy that I am free from worries and will watch the first day first show of my Thalaivar!” (smiles)
