When Roshna Ann Roy says dancing is an all abiding passion with her, she has proof to support it. She has been studying dance for nine years and had a secure job as a teacher in Malappuram, which she quit to pursue her love for dance. She came down to Kochi and joined the Kochi Guinness Troupe which specialises in dance performances, especially cinematic dance. The move to Kochi did her good; she soon landed a modeling assignment and followed that up with appearances on TV and also acted in three short films. Roshna is among the lucky few who managed to get a footing in tinsel town, which has also been a long-standing dream. She started off with a small role in Varnyathil Aashanka, where she played Kunchacko Boban’s brother’s wife Manju. She followed that up with Lavakusha opposite Aju Varghese in a comic role. Then came Chakkara Maavin Kombathu where she played a comic role yet again. While these have been small roles, Roshna is now gearing up for the big jump with some lengthy roles.
The upcoming Biju Menon-starrer Rosapoo will see Roshna playing Soubin’s partner. She speaks about her role, “I play a Tamil woman and have two get-ups as a yesteryear actress as well as a junior artiste supplier. This film is a story within a story and what is good is that I have combinations scenes with all the actors.” Her next film Ankarajyathe Jimmanmar starring Roopesh Peethambaran, Rajeev Pillai, etc. will have her playing the character Rose, who is an NRI. Also in the pipeline are Cuban Colony and Chanakya Thantram, where she plays a teacher.
Roshna has no complaints about debuting with small roles, but has a statement to make. “I used to get typecast offers for small roles, but what people miss out is that even the small roles I have done are important in the story. Doing good characters is important to me.” Roshna also got offers for acting in TV serials, but she put that off in the larger interest of cinema. She also faced a nasty experience about which she opens up, “I went for a serial audition, but the director insulted me with regard to my colour. I still remember him asking me if I belonged to the SC or ST category. But that comment did not make me give up! The opposite happened. I tried out in films with a vengeance to prove myself,” she says proudly.
Roshna is also teaching dance to some students in addition to performing on stage. “Though I am trained in classical and cinematic dance, the younger population prefers to learn cinematic dance as it is hugely popular.”
