Meenakshi Jayan: I am glad Sivaranjini found her ‘Victoria’ in me | Interview

Ernakulam-born actor Meenakshi Jayan was testing her luck when she applied for the casting call for ‘Victoria’, which clearly stated that applicants had to be from the Angamaly area. But she did not rely on luck alone; Meenakshi backed it up with systematic preparations, which impressed the film's director, Sivaranjini. 

To prepare, Meenakshi spent a whole day visiting shops and recording local voices to get a feel for the dialect. "Before heading home, I decided to call the associate director for help. She suggested I talk to the director, since she was from Angamaly. I was nervous, as I looked tired and wasn’t dressed for a performance. But by the end of the meeting, I think I managed to impress her. She seemed convinced I could be her Victoria," Meenakshi recalls meeting Sivaranjini and how she landed her role in 'Victoria'.

During the audition, Meenakshi felt completely at ease. Meenakshi was even more excited after reading the script. "Sivaranjini has a special way of describing scenes, and her choice of words is spot-on. We’d have long conversations, where she explained every detail. I take in everything, then let it go and focus on the script. If I try to remember too much, I get confused, so it's about finding the right balance," she said.

The actor shared that the team made her feel completely comfortable, even during the most intense scenes. “I remember laughing and cracking jokes, then stepping into the bathroom set to cry. It is important for actors to be comfortable since crying makes you vulnerable, and you need to feel at ease in that space," she said.

The film tells the story of a beautician who struggles with her own issues while caring for a rooster in her salon. "After playing Victoria, I became a more empathetic person. I could really connect with her. In some ways, I’m like her, though she’s more reserved and I’m an extrovert. This film isn’t just about beauticians – it’s about every woman who has faced her own battles. We all go through times when we retreat and shed tears in private, but we put up a cheerful face,” Meenakshi said.

Meenakshi recalled getting extremely emotional in the pre-climax scene of the film. "I think we filmed it on the 15th or 16th day of the shoot. By that point, I felt deeply connected to Victoria. I had so much love for her, and when I cried, it was for everything she was going through. The tears were real—it was as if I was channelling all my emotions during the shoot for her. It was a powerful moment. I love acting like that, where all the stress from the shoot comes out through the character."

Speaking about the experience during the shoot, Meenakshi revealed that Sivaranjini and the associates would do multiple rehearsals at first, followed by rehearsals with the cast. “We'd arrive in the morning, but the actual shoot would start between 3 and 6 pm. By then, we were so well-prepared that we usually only needed three takes. The cinematographer had a great vision, and since Sivaranjini is also an editor, she knew exactly what was needed. It made the entire process incredibly smooth and interesting."

Meenakshi also shared her experience while shooting along with the rooster, a pivotal character in the film. "Shaji chettan, who handles animals for films, trained me to work with Parthan, the trained rooster. Parthan was so well-behaved that everyone loved him. I grew quite fond of him myself. I had to hold him like a baby, and it was really fun. Thanks to Shaji chettan's guidance, I learned how to handle him with care, knowing the right ways to make him feel relaxed. There’s a scene where Parthan needed to appear agitated, and Shaji Chettan taught me to tickle him gently on the stomach,” she said.

On becoming an actor
Meenakshi reveals that she had always dreamed of becoming an actor. “I had no dreams beyond that. As a 15 or 16-year-old kid, I thought it would only be a pipe dream since I had my own sense of insecurities regarding beauty. But when I entered my first year of college, I got the chance to dub a character in the movie ‘Aanandam’—I voiced the heroine, who declares her love for Akshay. I remember when the cast and crew went to see the film at Padma theatre in Kochi, and I heard my voice in the 7.1 Dolby surround sound. The joy I felt in that moment was indescribable. That’s when I knew for sure—I wanted to become an actor. I started going for auditions after that,” she said. Meenakshi shared that her mother is now her biggest cheerleader, though it wasn’t always that way. “When I first decided to pursue acting, my mom was worried. She suggested I try other courses. But after the overwhelming response to Victoria, she’s now convinced this is my true passion,” Meenakshi said.

Before ‘Victoria,’ Meenakshi had already filmed ‘Sheshippu,’ which will premiere at this year’s International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). "Initially, ‘Sheshippu’ was conceived as a small project, and we planned to release it as a mini-series on YouTube. But once the shoot was completed, the producers decided to turn it into a full-length film," she explained.

Meenakshi also spoke about her hopes of winning an award at the Kerala State Film Awards for her performance in ‘Victoria’ this year. “Reports were suggesting I was in the running for Best Actress, which gave me hope. While I was a bit disappointed not to win, my mom reminded me that this was just my first film," she said. ‘Victoria’ is currently running in select theatres in Kochi.