Lena, In Her Own Right

The list of Mollywood’s most versatile actors won’t be complete without the name of Lena. A go-getter, she has proved time and again that she could break out of the safe zone during her more than two decade-long career. “It has been quite a ride. Since my debut in 1998, a lot happened to the industry and to the artist in me. 20 years is a long period. Many things changed, but after all these eventful years, I still feel like a newcomer – fresh, and I always want to be that novice,” says the actor.  

Unhesitant to take up any challenging role she has been offered, Lena enjoys her new stints across the film industries in various languages. Since sharing the screen with the Akshay Kumar in Airlift, she has been busy with a handful of non-Malayalam films, latest being Kadaram Kondan, a suspense thriller starring Chiyaan Vikram. As Vikram makes a comeback to action, his admitted forte in the film, the movie has a lot more to tell than what the poster and teaser glimpses show. The movie starring Akshara Haasan also marks the debut of Abi Haasan, son of actor Nasser. Lena’s cropped hairdo and tomboyish looks in the teaser have already created a buzz in the tinsel town with movie buffs excited about the Kadaram Kondan.

“Kadaram Kondan is a huge project. Since the teaser is out, I am bombarded with queries about my role, but I cannot disclose anything more as we are yet to complete the post-production. But I can assure that the movie is a fast-paced suspense thriller and I play an important character,” she says.

The film is expected to hit the screens in April. A part of some of the best projects of Mollywood in the recent years, Lena considers herself lucky. At a time when even male actors are cautious about getting typecast, she dared to choose character roles. “Still, I don’t hesitate to commit to character roles though some of them are way too old for me. I consider myself very flexible and it helps me transform as a character the film demands. I am lucky for that. There were times when I was getting stereotyped, but in each character I have been offered, I look for something that excites me. If I find the excitement and comfort I am looking for, I sign up. Now, I don’t think myself as an artist caught up in typecast web. I consider myself a lucky person who gets very good character roles that are challenging and exciting,” she adds.

Quizzed about her work experience in other languages, she says non-Malayalam industry people have immense respect for M’town actors. “Their industries are very huge and there too, changes are happening. A common phenomenon I saw is that all the industries keenly observe Mollywood very closely and are always ready to welcome Malayali artistes.”

Apart from her acting career, Lena has also entered a partnership with the band Pragathi in their trilingual music trilogy. Very hopeful of the new year, Lena excitedly waits for her upcoming releases – the much-awaited Varikuzhiyile Kolapathakam and Tamil psychological thriller Un Kadhal Irundhal.