While her contemporaries continue to go on a rampage signing films to add numbers to their filmography and bucks to their bank accounts, Vishakha Singh is one of the few actresses in recent years to build her star power, while proving her talent in select indie and mainstream Indian films.
And, as testimony to her conviction to do only films that go beyond the commercial viability, the actress is now playing the lead in a psychological horror film in Tamil that is currently being canned in Munnar, Kerala.
Vishakha says, “This is the first time I’m playing such a role and it’s a heroine-centric film. There are so many shades to this character; backed by a great and neat script. It’s amazing that our director Mani, who’s making his debut, hasn’t resorted to any vulgarity at a time when every other horror film in India is interlaced with sex and sleaze.”
She adds on a lighter note, “Also, I’m probably the only heroine who reeks of Odomos and shampoo. The first thing we do before we go on the sets is apply shampoo on our feet to keep us from leeches and Odomos to fight the mosquito menace.” She is quite smitten by Kerala, where she’s shooting for the first time. “Having grown up in Dubai, my connection with Malayalis goes back a long way. It’s so beautiful here and our team goes out on long walks in the evening after the shoot. I’d love to keep coming back again and again. I’m in love with chakka.” The actress adds that she hopes her long pending Malayalam debut film, Rajesh Pillai’s Motorcycle Diaries, goes on floors soon.
There’s more to Vishakha than the glitz and glamour — she is also a successful venture capitalist, working in her father’s company based out of London and Dubai. “It’s not only interesting, but also a more lucrative job financially and I know the tricks of the trade. For me to leave this, a film really needs to be worth my time and effort.”
Celebrities are the easiest targets of pervert and lecherous netizens on social media. Most recently, Vishakha found herself at the receiving end of inappropriate comments about her body. However, unlike most other celebrities who choose not to react, Vishakha gave the offenders a commendable response and put them in their place.
The actress who was applauded by several contemporaries, for brilliantly silencing the stalkers, says, “Although I’ve had such experiences before, in which my social media team has managed to delete and block the comments, this one went a little out of hand. It wasn’t an isolated event as this particular person had been sending lewd messages to me in my inbox for a while. So, when he did the same on my wall; especially hiding behind a child’s picture, I decided to give him what he deserved. It was as simple as that. I have no idea why it became so big.”
As for the negative criticism she received with some accusing her of doing it for publicity, she says, “It’s all background noise and doesn’t deserve any attention. But yes, if you rub me the wrong way or misbehave, you’re getting a piece of my mind or my hand.”
