Popular Kannada cine star Ragini Dwivedi, who has worked with superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty, is excited about her comeback to the Mollywood film industry. The actor who appeared in the Mohanlal-starrer ‘Kandahar’ in 2010 and Mammootty’s film ‘Face to Face’ in 2012 is returning with a bilingual ‘Sheela’, which is hitting theatres on July 28.
Though life has not been easy for the Sandalwood actor, she believes she has come out stronger after a recent scandal involving her. ‘Sheela’, which features Riyaz Khan, among others is an ode to the strength of a woman and draws inspiration from the tales of real-life issues in Kerala and Karnataka.
There were only a few posters of the film. Tell us a little more about Sheela
‘Sheela’ is written and directed by Balu Narayanan. The film is an emotional, straight-forward story of an ambitious woman who travels to Kerala from Karnataka to find some answers. She is caught up in the ego battles and internal politics of men. The revenge-action drama is inspired by real-life situations that many women in Kerala and Karnataka have faced. I’m sure it is very relatable. We, as women, look for external help during such situations. However, ‘Sheela’ shows we are strong enough to look after ourselves. We can find the strength within one’s self to solve difficult situations.
As a Kannada actor who is returning to Mollywood after a gap of 11 years, how was the experience?
Wonderful! I loved shooting with the cast and crew of ‘Sheela’. I think Malayalam cinema has a fine set of technicians who are different from the rest. I was impressed with the story when Balu approached me. It resonated with me and felt it would be relatable to others. I could have never imagined doing a film like ‘Sheela’ before Covid. However, now, with all the OTT buzz, people are willing to try out something different. Earlier, people were only drawn to movies with big stars. Now, content is the king. Also, the new directors have such amazing stories to tell.
Were there any challenges shooting for the film?
‘Sheela’ has plenty of action. Though I have done plenty of action movies in Kannada, this is the first time I am attempting the genre in Malayalam. I feel honoured I was given the opportunity to do such a film. I am also grateful for the strong characters that are coming my way.
The story revolves around a woman who is wronged. What is your take on the topic?
I believe ambitious women face a lot of hurdles. She is also discriminated against since she is a woman. It might be different for a man if he is put in the same position. As women, we are subject to a lot of questions – about our identity, work and ambition. The hurdle is especially hard in my line of work when you don’t have a godfather in the industry.
You said you were framed in the Sandalwood drug racket case. How did you tackle the hard phase in your life?
As a woman, I felt targeted. I was hurt. If I don’t feel it, I am not human, but it’s important to come out of it. I never say life is unfair to me. In fact, I am very grateful for my career and the love and support I received from people and friends. I have seen good and bad times, but I see them as phases. It’s important to control your emotions and tackle them wisely. At the end, it is not about the conclusion, but about the journey and the perspective you have on the situation.
What are your upcoming projects?
I am presently shooting for two Kannada movies. I have also signed up for one Tamil, Telugu and Hindi film each.
