When Glam Divas Turn Evil on Screen

With Bollywood diva Kangna Ranaut is essaying the role of a ghost in her upcoming horror thriller “Chandramukhi2, it seems that the trend of glam divas turning ghosts to spin box-office magic is here to stay. Talking about her experience of playing an unusual role in her career, actress Kangna Ranaut said, “It was a very different experience for me from the first day. My walk, look and gestures were more feminine and I haven’t done such a role before. I have done some action films. I also watched Jyothik’s excellent performance in ‘Chandramukhi 1’ and walked into her shoes with support of director P Vasu. I am surely going to spook the audience with my screams and antics,” she added.

Earlier, it was glam divas Anushka (‘Arundhathi’), Charmee (‘Manthra’), Nayantara (‘Mayuri’ and ‘Dora’) and Trisha (‘Nayaki’) and Hansika (‘Chandrakala’) to mention a few who sent shivers down the spine of viewers with their spine-chilling act.

Justifying the casting of actresses as ghosts, producer-writer Kona Venkat who launched his horror thriller ‘Geetanjali Malli Vachindi’ with glam diva Anjali says, “Pretty actresses turning ghosts has always been a safe bet since they showcase varied shades and grip the audience,” he says and adds, “Even in puranas there were Saakini and Daakini and also local tales about a woman walking in a white saree in midnight or another girl was seen near a dilapidated well were all well known myths in real-life. Fortunately or unfortunately ghost stories revolved around women, so actresses playing a ghost in a movie is more relatable and believable to the audience and we do it,” he points out.

However, essaying the role of a ghost has its own pain and stress. “We go through lot of mental stress and body pain for all those screams and unusual antics and end up with sleepless nights,” says actress Nandita Swetha, who played a ghost in ‘Ekkadi Pothovu Chinnavada and her upcoming film ‘O Manchi Ghost’.

“Even my family and friends used to point out difference in my behavior and also talk about unusual expressions on my face. We tend to carry the role to our home as it seeps into our daily life, unlike other roles. Frankly, it takes three months to wriggle out of the ghostly act to become normal again,” she informs.

On the other hand she cherishes the tag Dhaiyyam Pilla. “I am happy when people call me gorgeous ghost making us to forget the hard work we have put in. I have done many roles but this ghost role has stuck to me,” she concludes.