'It hasn’t been an easy journey': Bhavana opens up on her career, choices and reinvention

Actor Bhavana, who made her debut as Parimalam in Kamal’s 2002 Malayalam film 'Nammal,' has now stepped into her 90th film. Yet, for her, the numbers have never defined success. In an interview with Onmnaorama, she admitted that her journey has been far from easy, reflecting the challenges she has faced in her career, even as she navigates the personal storms of her life.

“The journey has not been easy, but I don’t think these numbers matter. Whether it’s my 50th or 90th film, people are not going to remember me for the count. They will only remember the character I brought to life. That’s the real win,” she said.

“As actors, we are recognised for the work we do. Some are lucky enough to make a mark with their very first or second film. There were many actors in the ’80s and ’90s who appeared in only two or three films but had to leave the industry for various reasons—yet we still remember them because of the quality of their work. If your work is good, it stays with people forever.”

Bhavana recalled joining the industry without fully grasping its intensity. “Back then, it felt like a vacation. Honestly, I wasn’t even happy with my debut role as Parimalam as she didn’t fit the conventional heroine image. But in hindsight, I’m glad I did it, and today Parimalam is my personal favourite. Even now, people greet me as Parimalam. It’s a huge compliment for an actor to be remembered by a character’s name after so many years.”

‘Zara is just like me'
Talking about her recent roles, Bhavana said she identifies with her character Zara Philip in the upcoming movie ‘Anomie'. “Zara is composed and bold on the outside, yet deeply emotional inside. I can relate to that. I’ve played many bold, talkative characters, but Zara offered a fresh challenge. The filmmakers were initially unsure whether I would be willing to take on this character because of my existing image, but I wanted to try something new. It’s boring to repeat the same kind of role. I’d even love to explore negative roles in the future.”

She also spoke about her experience in ‘Adam Joan' directed by Jinu Abraham. She said it was Prithviraj who told Jinu that she could take on something different. “He had full confidence in me. I had initially wanted to play a more negative character, but I liked this role. I don’t think there’s a rigid image barrier in Malayalam cinema. For instance, I played a mother of two in ‘Winter,’ and if it were any other industry, I would probably have been offered only mother roles after that. The Malayalam industry is safe that way,” she said.

She also appreciates that filmmakers here aren’t afraid to experiment. “They don’t worry too much about what the audience might think, and I think it’s a healthy approach,” she added.

'Not bothered about labels'
Though she said she was not bothered by labels, she understood why the 'Anomie' makers promoted the film with the tag 'reintroducing Bhavana’. “The makers chose that because they felt my character was something I hadn’t done before. As an individual, I’m not bothered by labels. When the filmmaker asked if they could use a title like ‘introducing’ or ‘reintroducing,’ I said it was fine. I really don’t care about where my name appears in the film credits or how it’s presented.”

'Mentally exhausting to work for paychecks'
She also spoke about her method of choosing films, which has become much more selective over the years. “There was a time when I would do back-to-back films, but that’s not my pace anymore. Now, even if a filmmaker approaches me, they think twice about the kind of character to offer. They can’t just slot me into a role like Padma in ‘Swapanakoodu.’ If I have a conviction about a role, only then will I take it.

“There are many factors that female actors have to consider,” she continued. “I don’t like taking up films just for the paycheck, because then the next 30–40 days can become mentally exhausting. I’ve had to do a few projects like that, and only later do you realise they didn’t turn out as expected. Sometimes it doesn’t go as you plan, and other times it surprises you and turns out even better than you imagined.”