Ask any television actor what her dream is and most would say that films are the final destination. Jeena Riju, who became a familiar face to the Kerala film audience through her roles in movies like How Old Are You and Acha Din, is different in her outlook. Though happy about grabbing a role in V.S. Jayakrishna’s upcoming movie Anyarkku Praveshanamilla, it is television that excites her much more than movies. She is making her television debut through the tele-series Punarjani.
“I love working in both films and television, but if I had to choose I would choose television now. I feel it offers a bigger and better platform for actors to learn, experiment and try out new things. With films, you shoot for a few days, finish the project and move on. So your commitment to a character is short-lived. On the other hand, in serials, you play the character for a year or two or even three. This means you have the space to evolve as a character, capturing even minor details, and incorporating whatever new acting lessons or techniques you learn to improve the character as you go,” says the actress.
Referring to her role in Anyarkku Praveshanamilla, she says, “I am being paired opposite Tini Tom in the movie and I play the second female lead. Due to some issues in the production, the film has been delayed. But hardly 15 days of shoot is left now and I think we would be able to release the movie in two months. The shoot was mostly in a flat in Aluva and along with the lives of our characters, the film also explores the lives of the other residents in the flat and takes a look at the lifestyle in such living spaces. Idavela Babu, Sunil Sugatha and Ponnamma Babu are also a part of the cast.”
However, she isn’t signing any more new film projects. “After the busy shooting schedules of television and my personal life, it would be difficult to balance a film career as well. And I’m not ready to give up my television career for films,” explains Jeena.
