Carrying a backpack on her shoulder, in a school uniform and a headcovering, Anu Sithara became for a second time in her life, a student of class IX — as Asma this time. It’s not too long ago that the young actor had bid goodbye to her schooldays, yet she was eloquent on being able to have a memorable return that many could only long for. Anu, an actor who has graduated into heroine roles in tinselville, got the opportunity to be dressed up as a ninth grader in the film Nawal Enna Jewel.
“Other than applying some kohl under my eyes, there was no make-up. It was such a fascinating and challenging experience. Spot dubbing was a thing I had to be extra cautious with as recording was done with a boom on the location,” Anu recalls the days. Asma, a victim of Arabi Kalyanam (a kind of child marriage), is portrayed by Anu and Shwetha Menon. Anu enacts the childhood of Shwetha. A story developing in Iran, Nawal Enna Jewel will have a multi-lingual release. Anu is also back in K’town as leading lady for Pothu Nalan Karuthi by director Zion, her second Tamil outing after the 2015 flick Veri. She acts as Mridula, a village belle.
“I was waiting for a role to suit my taste. In Tamil, most offers demand you to play modern girl roles. I have a comfort zone in selecting the costumes,” she reasons. Her hands full, Anu is currently on the sets of Jayasurya-starrer Fukri, which will see her and Prayaga Martin as female leads. In addition to Nawal Enna Jewel and Fukri, two more films are getting ready for release — Campus Diary and Marupadi. Bombarded with back-to-back projects, the busy bee had to turn down a mammoth offer in Telugu.
“The schedule of Fukri and the Telugu movie were coinciding, so I dropped one. Hansika will play that role instead. Above all, I always dreamt of acting in a movie by Siddique sir movie and this is a dream come true,” smiles Anu. The busyness has made Anu a once-in-a-while visitor to her dance school in her hometown Wayanad. “The school is now managed by my mom, aunt and sister. One-and-a-half years ago, I got married. My husband Vishnu Prasad is so supportive of me and helps me in choosing roles,” she signs off.
