The young actress Swasika, who is remembered for her role in 'Kattapanayile Rithwik Roshan', made a mark as a mini-screen diva playing the lead roles in many superhit TV soap operas. However, her journey to success wasn’t as easy and there was a time when she had struggled a lot to establish herself as an artist in the industry. Swasika opens up about her passion for cinema and also about her tryst with depression which made her even contemplate taking her own life.
“My aim was to do movies. I had dreamt to make it big in the movies and earn a name as a great actress. I was a student when I made my way into the movies through a Tamil film. I was offered the role in the movie ‘Vaigai’ after the makers saw my picture in a magazine. The director and hero too were new comers and the movie was a moderate success. After that, I did three more movies in Tamil and all of them were good roles. However, things didn’t work out as I had planned. Many offers didn’t come my way. I have no idea what went wrong. It must be sheer bad luck,” noted Swasika.
The actress admitted that she had expected to become a successful actress, especially after she debuted as the lead heroine in a Tamil movie. However, fate had something else in store for her. Meanwhile, she had essayed some amazing roles in Malayalam movies like 'Prabhuvinte Makkal' and 'Ayalum Njanum Thammil', which were hits. But these movies too didn’t help Swasika’s career as she wasn’t offered any good roles. She wasn’t seen in many movies for the three years that followed. The actress, by this time, was on the verge on falling into depression. The thought of having failed in life and career began to haunt her. Swasika said that movies were her passion and she had worked hard to make a successful career in it even by giving up her education.
“When my career wasn’t taking me anywhere I became depressed and didn’t even wish to live anymore. I wanted to end my life and began to think about ways which could take my life suddenly. I wished that some vehicle had hit me. My friends were all busy with their studies. Some others had already found jobs, and I was the only one who wasted my time fruitlessly pursuing cinema. I would wake up in the morning and sit jobless at home. I was battling depression and people began asking me about my plans. Even my family began to think that I should have continued my education,” said Swasika.
She confessed that she couldn’t face anyone as she was lost and confused. However, Swasika was not ready to give up that easily. She enrolled for a meditation – yoga session which helped her bounce back to life. Later, she realized and felt that she had wasted three years of her life doing nothing.
It was during that time that she was offered the lead role in the serial ‘Dathuputhri’ which was to be aired on Mazhavil Manorama. As she was waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback into the entertainment industry, she accepted the offer. This serial became a hit and she went on star in a few more TV serials. Swasika said excitedly, “I did ‘Kattapanayile Rithwik Roshan’ and ‘Swarna Kaduva’ after a long break. I am really happy as I am being offered good roles. Now, I live my life as I had wished.”
Image conscious
Though she is doing amazingly well in the TV serials, Swasika vowed that she hasn’t completely turned to the mini screen. “I am still doing movies. However, it was through serials that people began recognising me. It was on the mini screen that I finally earned a name for myself. Still, like everyone else, I too wish to end up in the magical world of cinema. TV serials and anchoring are all stepping stones to it,” explained the young actress.
Swasika got her big break in the movies with the superhit movie 'Kattapanayile Rithwik Roshan'. Her character of a ‘theppukari’, one who dumps her devoted lover for a rich husband, was well received by the Malayali audience. Even mega star Mammootty once addressed her by that name in a TV show. “I really wish to do some roles which challenge me as an actor. Many ask me whether I was upset for being marked by a particular image. I definitely am not worried about that. However, I won’t accept a similar role in the future as I may get type-cast in it. I would do it only if it is such a huge project and an amazing opportunity,” Swasika made her stand clear.
Glamorous shoot
Swasika had recently appeared in a photo shoot and the audience, who had seen her mostly in traditional attires, was quite shocked. “The Malayali audience may have been surprised as they haven’t seen me in such a get up earlier. Both on and off screen, I am mostly spotted in traditional wears. They wouldn’t expect me to appear in a photo shoot like that. But I don’t think it as a big thing. In fact, I did it purposefully just to have a makeover,” revealed Swasika.
Family
A native of Muvattupuzha, Swasika’s parents are Vijayakumar and Girija. Akash is her only brother. Her real name is Pooja Vijay and Swasika is her screen name which she adopted while acting in the Tamil movies. The actress is currently essaying the role of a police officer in the movie ‘Soothrakaran’. She is also playing an interesting role in ‘Swarna Malsyangal’.
