Her very entry into Mollywood — with Noketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu — ensured permanent stardom. Though Nadia Moidu is only an occasional visitor to our entertainment space nowadays, she continues to retain her ‘pull’ — as the cinematic cliché goes — even after 32 years.
Her last set of movies in Malayalam was in 2013 — Aaru Sundarim aarude Katha and English. So, in a way she is making one of her many comebacks with another release but with a stronger role. Nadia is playing a police officer in the Tamil-Malayalam bilingual movie titled Girls which is directed by Thulasidas, who also is making a comeback. “This movie has a speciality that there are only girls in the frame. It is a suspense thriller, and I play the role of an officer who is investigating a case.
The movie will release in a month’s time,” says Nadia. The actress explains that she carefully chooses a few roles in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu. “Since I am based out of Kerala, I try to keep my schedule limited. I am not someone who takes up more films than that I can handle and then mess it up. It maybe because I have obsessive compulsive disorder and try to do a neat job for whatever I involve myself in, whether it is movies or my personal life. I have my own small social circle and work well within that, as well as maintaining my screen presence. I am still overwhelmed by the kind of fan response I get when I go out. So I feel obliged to give back something to the audience who like to see me on the screen. As long they want to see me on screen, I will give my best, even if it is once in two years, be it in Tamil, Telugu or Malayalam,” the veteran actor says.
It is no coincidence that we always see Nadia in films that are women-centric or in strong roles. Right from her debut Noketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu to M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi and Aaru Sundarimarude Katha, she always made sure her roles speak strongly. “Yes, I deliberately choose such roles, probably because it relates a lot with my own nature. I also like to do roles that are impactful and it doesn’t matter whether the banner is big or small. If a role suits me, I will do it. I have turned down several big projects, just because I was not convinced I was fit for the role. When I get a project I look from the audience point of view, because they have certain expectations. So I have absolutely no regrets.”
On her preparation for her character in Girls, she says, “The shooting of the movie was done in some remote locations. In terms of my fitness for the movies, I didn’t have to reduce weight for my role as I am already in shape thanks to my regular workout,” says Nadia.She elaborates further: “Fitness is a daily affair for me. I cannot imagine a day without going for a run and I take my shoes whenever I travel. If my children find me in a grumpy mode, they ask me, ‘Amma you didn’t work out today?’ So it is more of a mental thing for me.”
She explains that more than a career, acting is a process of fulfilling her creative side, more like a hobby. “As I said earlier, I am more of a home-bound person.
My family is my priority. Being a celebrity, you need mental strength to be in the public sphere, and I don’t take that amount of stress that requires me to go beyond my capacity,” says Nadia.
The actor says she is quite fascinated by the new-generation hitmakers. “Yes, the youngsters are coming up with really good movies. So if any director, whom I believe can bring out the best in me, comes up with an offer, I am ready to work with them.”
