From Mohanlal's daughter to Jude Anthany's Meenu: Vismaya says her 'Thudakkam' was not easy

Vismaya Mohanlal is still taking in the response to her acting debut in Jude Anthany Joseph’s ‘Thudakkam’. The actor, who has received appreciation for her performance as Meenu, says she is happy to see how warmly the film has been received, though she admits she never anticipated how the audience would respond. For Vismaya, the beginning has turned out to be more special than she could have imagined, particularly because she got to make her first appearance with a film she deeply enjoyed being part of.

Her parents, superstar Mohanlal and Suchitra Mohanlal, have also been around to share in the excitement. Speaking about the experience, Vismaya says she is grateful to Jude Anthany Joseph for giving her the opportunity and allowing her to begin her journey with ‘Thudakkam’. Settled comfortably in a black blouse and stylish pants, Vismaya looks at ease as she talks about the film, although there is a sense that the journey to this point was not entirely easy. She admits that fear and self-doubt were among the reasons she did not enter the film industry earlier.

‘I’m grateful to Jude chetta for this’
For Vismaya, one of the most exciting aspects of ‘Thudakkam’ was its action. Her character Meenu’s physical strength and ability to fight became an important part of the film, and Vismaya says she enjoyed bringing that side of the character to the screen. “I’m grateful to Jude chetta for this. Fighting was the most exciting part of the experience,” she says. What makes that experience even more meaningful for her is the possibility that Meenu could inspire young girls. Vismaya recalls an encounter with a child who came up to her and said, “Look, I can fight like Meenu.” For the actor, moments like that give the action in the film a larger meaning. “If it inspires girls and women, that is really good,” she says, adding that it is cool to see strong people on screen.

Her experience with martial arts has also given her a sense of confidence. At the same time, she is careful not to overstate what the training can do. “I feel martial arts gives you confidence for sure. I won’t say you can beat anyone because of this alone, but it definitely builds confidence,” she says.

For Vismaya, however, ‘Thudakkam’ is about more than Meenu’s physical strength. At its heart, she feels, the story is also about refusing to give up and finding the courage to move forward after a difficult experience. “Meenu’s journey is about taking agency over her own life after feeling that she had failed and learning to move beyond what happened to her,” she adds.

‘I’m extremely proud of Acha’
Vismaya speaks about her father, Mohanlal, with admiration. Rather than focusing only on his achievements as an actor, she describes him as an artist in every aspect of his life. “I’m proud of Acha. He is an artist in every way. Even in life, I feel he is an artist,” she says.

What she admires most about him is his ability to remain present and focused. “He is the most present person I know. He has incredible focus. He is a creative person,” she says.

But being the daughter of one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest stars does not mean she was spared the usual father-daughter moments. Vismaya recalls that he would tell her off when necessary, although he never resorted to shouting. “He would tell me off, but he never shouts,” she says with a laugh.

The fear behind the hesitation
If Vismaya waited before stepping into acting, it was not because she lacked opportunities. Rather, she was unsure whether she could actually do it. “I didn’t know if I could do it. I was not sure if I could,” she says.

There was also the inevitable pressure of being Mohanlal’s daughter. Following in the footsteps of an actor of his stature can come with expectations, and Vismaya admits that this was something she was conscious of. “There is the pressure of Acha being such a good actor. Malayalam was a hurdle. Will I fit in, since I was not in the spotlight?” she says.

That uncertainty appears to have been one of the biggest barriers she had to overcome before making her debut. ‘Thudakkam’, in that sense, became an opportunity not only to act but also to find out for herself whether she belonged in this world.

A teenage prank that left Suchitra shocked
Vismaya also looks back at her teenage years with a laugh, recalling an incident that perfectly captures the impulsiveness of growing up. She once got her nose pierced from a roadside establishment without her mother Suchitra’s permission. Knowing that her mother might not react calmly, Vismaya got a friend to call her and tell her that she had shaved her head.

Suchitra was understandably shocked by the news. Vismaya eventually called her mother and reassured her about what had actually happened. “I was 14 when this happened. It is teenage behaviour...where you would tell a parent the worst possible version of a story first and then reveal what really happened,” she says with a mischievous laugh.

What’s next for Vismaya?
With ‘Thudakkam’ giving her a promising start, Vismaya is now open to exploring more opportunities in cinema. She says she has already begun listening to scripts, although she is yet to make a decision about her next project. “I have read two scripts and I have not yet decided. But I’m excited about doing more films now,” she says.

For someone who once wondered whether she could take the leap into acting, Vismaya now appears ready to see where that first step leads. ‘Thudakkam’ may have marked her beginning, but she is clearly looking forward to discovering what comes next.