Here to win hearts again...

Actor Trisha speaks about her character Janu alias Janaki Devi in the film '96', declared a super-hit

Trisha has just become the heartthrob of Tamil cinema yet again. The lady, who stole hearts with her performance as Jesse in Gautham Vasudev Menon’s Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, seems to have repeated that feat yet again with her role as Janu alias Janaki Devi in the just-released Tamil film 96, which has now been declared a super-hit. The lead actors, Trisha and Vijay Sethupathi, are enthralling the audience with their powerful performances. The film is already being hailed as a classic.

Talking about the experience of working on this film, Trisha says, “I want to thank Prem for writing a heroine-centric script. I don’t think I have ever played a Jaanu ever before in my career. While working on this film, Prem, Sethu (Vijay Sethupathi) and I would discuss each scene before doing it. That is because Prem does not like shooting more than one take as he believes the first take to be the most spontaneous. So, we would do a lot of homework and do rehearsals and only then shoot. Prem was not like a newcomer. He has worked as a cameraman in seven or eight films and therefore, he knows the meter.”

Read also: '96' movie review: All about love and memories

Trisha made her debut in the film industry much before Vijay Sethupathi. So, technically, that makes her Vijay’s senior. Ask her how she felt while working with him on this film and she says with a laugh, “Sethu is asking me to say that he is a small boy. On a serious note, he is an accomplished actor and therefore, I don’t feel that he is a junior at all. Acting with him is a challenge as he can outscore you. The film is centred around our two characters. We did not compete with one another, rather we complemented each other and worked as a team. From day one, none of us had the impression that we were stars. We went in there just as simple people and did our job.”

Sethupathi adds, “People keep saying that she is my senior but in the film industry, actors begin their careers at a very young age and therefore, you think they are older. Trisha is at least seven to eight years younger to me in real life.”

The film 96 is about two people who recollect their memories of school life and the love that they had then. In fact, the magic of the film lies in the manner in which both Jaanu and Ram remain friends in life after 22 years. Did Trisha have a love story while in school? “I studied in a girls’ convent and therefore, there was no crush as such. I did not know any boys till I was in college.”

The film 96 also showcases a reunion of school students. Has Trisha attended any such events? The actor replies in the negative. Says she, “My school and college friends are the same. I still hang out with them. Therefore, there has been no need to organise a reunion.”

How much does Trisha have in common with Janu or Janaki Devi of 96? “Actually, Janu and I are in complete contrast,” she confesses. What more? The actor has just begun shooting with none other than the superstar of Tamil cinema in his next film Petta. “What can I say, it is a dream come true. I have been wanting to act opposite Rajini sir for a very long time. It feels like life has come a full circle. More than the film, I am excited about my role in it. In fact, that has been the reason why I have been a little busy of late. I have had to attend workshops and rehearsals for my character. I will be working for a month with the Petta team in Varanasi,” she discloses.

Of late, the Supreme Court has been delivering a series of important judgements including one on making adultery a non-criminal offence, and another on allowing women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple. Get Trisha to respond to these judgements and she says, “I feel the decision to allow women of all ages into Sabarimala is a good thing. The last few verdicts of the Supreme Court have been truly progressive in nature.”

And finally, ask her to respond to the judgement making adultery a non-criminal offence and she says, “I don’t have any take on it.” Point out that she is very diplomatic and she acknowledges it with a smile before responding, “I’ll put it this way. Even when it was a crime, it never stopped anybody from doing it.”