Amala Paul, who is back in Tamil cinema post a hiatus caused by her marriage, says she was shocked when Dhanush approached her for playing the role of a mother to 15-year-old girl. “When he called me for Amma Kanakku, he said it is about a mother-and-daughter relationship. I asked ‘Am I playing the daughter?’and he answered, ‘No, you are essaying a maid servant and mother to a 15-year-old girl!’ I was annoyed and asked him ‘Do I look like that?’ Later, I realised the importance of the role and agreed. Thanks to Dhanush,” she begins the conversation.
“I am just 24 years old! I am still doing a Malayalam film with Kunchaka Boban and Jayasuriya as the lead heroine, and a Kannada film with Sudeep. It is not a routine mother role which Ashwini has conceived. I play the character of Shanthi and do multiple tasks such as working as a maid, going to the fish market and flour mill to get my daughter educated. We shot in real locations like the Coovam river, fish godowns etc,” she adds.
On the challenging film, she says, “The transition was amazing. I did prepare myself for the role from my mother Anne Paul. She is not a strict mom, and I used to be a rebel from my school days. There used to be a cook Srinidhi in my native city, Cochin and she used to be my mom’s best friend. They discuss everything under the sun and I have just carried forward the chemistry between them into this film! Now, after working in AK, I have started sharing more with my mother and my house maid in Chennai (laughs).”
When asked how her director hubby Vijay reacted to the project, Amala tells us, “He was very happy. He saw the film and wants me to take on such meaningful attempts in my career. I even did yoga and meditation for the film to tone down my hyperactive nature! When he came to the sets, he commented, ‘I wish you were calm like this always!’”
Amala has also turned more dusky and added a few kilos for the character. “I have been shooting in Pollachi continuously in the hot sun. That’s why I have this tanned look,” she explains and signs off.
