Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; April 19, 2018)

People say that children usually follow in their parents’ footsteps. But for Malavika Mohanan, it was just the opposite. While her dad K U Mohanan is a celebrated cinematographer, the young lady is ready for a career in front of the lens. The actress talks to us about her maiden Hindi venture, Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds (BTC), her wish list of actors as well as directors and how she plans to take her filmi career ahead from here. Over to her...

Beyond The Clouds is quite an unconventional choice for a debut. Did you always want it this way?
Like everyone else, even I wanted a grand debut. When I say grand, I mean an A-league team. And it can’t get more A-league than this. I had Majidi sir leading the pack, Vishal Bhardwaj has written the dialogues and Ishaan (Khatter) is a newcomer, but he is a fantastic performer. So the team was kick-ass and it was an amazing experience. Today, even in Bollywood, things are changing and a lot of focus is on performances instead of naach-gaana.

The line between conventional and unconventional cinema is blurring now. Comment.
Previously, there was a strong divide between indie and masala films, but yes, now the lines are getting blurred. The change is great because it opens up different avenues for actors like me who can do a Beyond The Clouds and an Imtiaz Ali film side by side. We can fit into different movies and I hope I get a diverse range of roles. And why not? In Hollywood, actors get all kinds of roles, so it’s high time that in Bollywood, too, we start exploring new stuff rather than just sticking to massy formula films.

Does it mean you are averse to doing a movie in the masala space?
I grew up watching Karisma Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan’s movies. So, I respect them and their cinema, too. I want to work in a team that looks after you. There’s Karan Johar and I have loved his films, so why won’t I do that? I was seven or eight when Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released. I want to work with Dharma and even with Vishal sir because he does different cinema. I got into my costume and character in BTC. If I can do that, I should be able to do the others as well. I would like to believe that today, there’s a huge space for newcomers like me. Look at Ishaan, he already has a lot of attention and has signed a film before this. But he was interested because he was hungry as an actor. To be directed by Mr Majidi is the cherry on the cake. Only an idiot would think twice about doing his film. Today, there’s no formula to becoming a star. So you might as well do what you love.

Have you already planned your next project?
I’m in talks with a few filmmakers and I need to decide which project to do next. But I don’t want to get stereotyped, but play interesting characters.

Any plans of doing an international film?
Not yet. I have been too consumed with this project. We have travelled with it to a bunch of film festivals, but I haven’t given Hollywood a thought as of now. All the movies I’m in talks for currently, are in Hindi. But, yes, the walls are getting thinner and people like Priyanka Chopra are doing stuff that’s not been done before.

Given a chance, which actor would you work with in a movie?
I love Ranbir Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan and would readily do a film with them. Also, because we have grown up watching SRK. My dad (K U Mohanan) shot Don 2, Raees and whenever he’s shooting, I keep going on set. I have met Shah Rukh several times and every time I meet him, I have my fangirl moment. Maybe when I meet him next, I’d talk to him about working in a film together.