Leona’s Kakkothi avatar

Skipping the usual glamorous roles that model-turned actresses usually don, Leona Lishoy will be seen in a street-dweller’s avatar in Biju Bernad’s Lona. The actress calls it the most fun role she has done yet and the most anticipated film out of the three ready for release.

“It’s a teeny-tiny movie made with the intention of being sent to festivals. But it was one of the most fun projects I have ever been part of. The title character is played by Indransettan, who runs a road-side tea stall. I’m in the role of a Kakkothi who lives on the streets near his shop. There was a lot of make-up involved as my character is dark-skinned and speaks Tamil with a Malayalam accent. She is very unkempt, and looks like she hasn’t taken a bath in ages! But towards the end, she comes in this cleaned-up look and reveals why she chose to live her life the way she did. It was a very challenging character,” explains Leona.

In another upcoming release, P.K. Baburaj's Gemini, she will don a more mature role of a supportive aunt to an autistic child. “Esther Anil plays the lead role and I’m her father’s sister. I have worked with a lot of physically challenged kids and have spent some time in orphanages, but this was my first exposure to autism. My character is the one who identifies Esther’s hidden talent at spell bee contests and nurtures her skills,” she adds.

However, she still does have a typical role of the model in her kitty as well, thanks to Anish Varma’s movie Zoom. “It is a humorous investigative thriller and Bhagat Manuel plays the lead role. I have a very small role with very little screen space, but plays a significant part in the storyline,” she explains.

She also has in the pipeline another movie, Joy, made by newcomer Vishnu, in which she pairs up with director Vinayan’s son Vishnu.

She is also still active as a model and is still excited about her recent shoot with Kamal Hassan. “I had gone for the ad shoot of a popular textile brand and only after reaching the location did I come to know that I would be posing alongside Kamal sir. Can you imagine how thrilled I was! It was a very exciting opportunity. I didn’t really get a chance to interact with him because it was a very hasty shoot, but since then, I have been showing off the ad and boasting about working with Kamal sir,” signs off Leona, chuckling.
 

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