The pretty scientist on big screen

Little did Vidya Pradeep know that her pursuit of films would land her a flurry of roles in a short span. The model-turned-actress, who is foraying into Mollywood, is yet to come to terms with the fact that she has shared the screen with some actors she had always looked up to.

A stem cell biologist by profession, it was her penchant for acting which prompted her to test the showbiz waters. Having made her silver screen debut with director A.L. Vijay’s Tamil flick Saivam last year in which she played a mother to a girl, the actress, who is working as a junior scientist at a hospital in Chennai, has so far completed half a dozen films.

Hailing originally from Alleppey, she is essaying the protagonist’s role in actor-turned-director Baburaj’s upcoming flick Pachakarimbu.

Vidya starts excitedly, “I have completed my Masters in Biotechnology and am currently pursuing my Ph.D. I have been breaking my head for a long time with respect to studies, and my life was all about books, thesis, labs, experiments, etc.

At one point, I started feeling that I should explore other fields and not restrict myself to things pertaining only to studies. Hence, I decided to give acting a try — I started with advertisements, and have been part of 200 advertisements in one-and-a-half years.”

Speaking about her Malayalam debut, the actress says she is happy to land in a women-centric film which has her portraying a Plus Two student. She gave a nod to the film as she wanted to prove that she can pull off younger roles too, contrasting to the character she essayed in Saivam.

She says, “When I played Sara’s mother in Saivam, many asked me as to why I took up such a matured role for my debut. But I accepted it as I liked my character in the movie. Similarly, Pachakarimbu too has an interesting role for me. Tipped as an off-beat venture, the film is set in the backdrop of a village and has ample scope for performance. This is the first time I’m doing a film where I play the lead character in it. It has an ensemble cast of Asif Ali, yesteryear actress Geeta, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Tini Tom, etc.”

All praise for Geeta, she says watching her perform was a pleasure and considers herself lucky to have associated with experienced artistes in the initial phase of her career.  

Vidya asserts that she will do characters only that which excite her as she didn’t take up acting for money. “Meanwhile, I have to finish my Ph.D. in a few months. I have been having a stressful life for some time balancing between both. I might concentrate more on signing up films after my tryst with studies. Like every newcomer’s dream, I too would like to join hands with established actors and directors. I’m eagerly waiting to know what’s in store,” she signs off.