After making a dream debut in K’wood with Bala’s Avan Ivan, Janani Iyer went on to sign a string of films in both, Tamil and Malayalam. However, after Thegidi (2014), the actress hasn’t been seen on the big screen. “I don’t want to sign films just for the sake of it, don’t want a few minutes on screen and claim that I have this many films on hand. And for sure, the audience should never opine that a particular film of mine didn’t need a female lead at all. That’s why I take time to sign films. People still remember me for Thegidi. That is the kind of project I want,” she reasons.
But now, she’s back, she says. “I have completed shooting the talkie portions of Ulta. I am also done with the first schedule of Thollaikaatchi. Ulta is a psychological thriller, and is directed by Vijay Balaji (former assistant to AR Murugadoss), and my character has two shades — one of which is bubbly and fresh. In Thollaikatchi, my character’s name is Malar, and I play a traditional girl for the first time.
After the Premam fever, I am sure the name of my character itself will attract viewers. The film is a set against a rural backdrop. For the first time in my career, I will be wearing half-sari throughout the film, she says, and adds, “I have also signed another Tamil film on my birthday, recently. The official announcement of it will be made in May. I want to sign more films in Tamil now. Also, being a Tamilian, my heart is here.”
Recalling her days with director Bala, she says, “I am still proud about the fact that I have been trained as an actor by Bala sir, that too, in my debut film. I always feel that every actor in this industry must at least do one film with him, to understand what acting is. I would love to work with him again. It’s Avan Ivan that gave me the confidence to continue a career in cinema.” For her, script matters, and not the heroes, she says. “The name I have garnered in this industry so far is only because of the scripts and not because of the heroes I am paired with. I do wish to act with top heroes of Kollywood, but that’s not my only aim. I just want to do good films.”
Janani Iyer also says that the young directors in the industry are those to look out for. “Newcomers are more promising now. That’s why, I never see their experience before signing a film. Irudhi Suttru was brilliant and I completely loved Sudha ma’am’s work. Rithika’s performance wasn’t like that of a debutante at all. I loved everything about the film,” gushes Janani.
On the personal front, does she share a good rapport with any of the heroines in the industry? “Frankly speaking, I don’t have many friends here. I do talk with Swati Reddy, as we both did a film together in Malayalam. I talk to Vidyullekha at times, that’s it.” And her relationship status? That was once the talking point of the gossip columns. There was speculation that she was seeing actor Atharvaa…
“Atharvaa and I are not an item, and all the rumours surrounding this are unnecessary. I request all of them to stop it. I am not dating anyone right now, but I do wish to meet my kind of person, date and then get married. I definitely won’t opt for an arranged marriage,” she says vehemently. “As of now, I want to concentrate on my career. Marriage will happen at the right time, but it must not be a forced decision,” she adds.
Also, we rarely come across actors who don’t promote themselves on the social media. Why is she absent, then? “I am not much into promoting myself. I haven’t appointed a person to manage my social networking page or to promote my projects. You need to personally interact with your fans online to know what they feel about your work. We won’t gain anything by appointing another person to manage our page. Also now promotions are getting somewhat overboard, but then, this is an individual wish. They have a strategy, they execute it. To each, his own.”