Shanthi Priya made a come back with the much talked about project of Vetrimaaran and Anurag Kashyap – Bad Girl. SHIKHA DUGGAL strikes a conversation with the glamour girl on her long break and coming back to act in the award winning film directed by debutant director Varsha Bharath
With her most recent film, Bad Girl, Shanthi Priya, the glamour queen of the 90s, is poised to shine on the big screen once more! Two of India’s most innovative filmmakers, Vetri Maaran and Anurag Kashyap, who are known for pushing the limits of cinematic brilliance collaborated on this much project. The film went on to garner critical acclaim in international circuit winning the NETPAC award for the Best Asia Pacific film at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam.
Bad Girl is set to revolutionize Indian cinema under the direction of Vetri Maaran and Anurag Kashyap, with Shanthi Priya reclaiming her space in an intense role. The story is about a young girl and her experiences as she comes of age.
An exclusive conversation with the south Indian leading lady who also went on to act in Hindi films and quit at the peak of her career – reveals more about the upcoming film and her deglamourised role.
The 54-year-old actress reflected on her involvement in the debutant director’s film. “It was really unique to be a part of Varsha’s first picture. A first-time director’s vision is infused with candid enthusiasm and Varsha’s storytelling was so sensitive and clear. She gave her actors the freedom to openly explore their emotions while still knowing exactly what she desired.” She says.
Her co-star, Anjali Sivaraman who plays her daughter , is also a natural performer and they clicked right away. Their friendship felt genuine on screen because they took the time to get to know their characters outside of the script. The bond felt even more genuine because some of their most touching moments that developed naturally!
Shanthi relates, “My look—subtle colour shifts, draping styles, the contrast between her home and the outside world—reflected my character’s inner conflicts beautifully. “Her secret hardships were highlighted by every little detail.”
Anjali Sivaraman
“The energy on set was extremely friendly, even though some of the scenes were very taxing.” The actress recalls that following a particularly intense scene, a humorous incident involving a staff member caused everyone to erupt in laughing. Even though the movie was intense, that balance kept the mood light! “This role came from a deeply personal space,” the Phool Aur Angaar (Hindi film) fame adds. “I can relate to the layers of love, anxiety and unsaid expectations because I am a mother myself. I also watched the mothers in my immediate vicinity—their silent sacrifices, their internal struggles between tradition and modernity. I based her on the shared experience of motherhood rather than on any one individual.”
Her director, Varsha, established an environment where the actors could really inhabit their roles. “She interacts, listens and offers such a novel yet perceptive viewpoint. Despite the boldness of her narrative, each scene feels incredibly personal. That is the reason “Bad Girl” has such power! More importantly, I hope young women and parents see past the arguments and recognise the unspoken love between a mother and daughter. This movie’s greatest reward would be if it sparked inter-generational dialogue, cleared up misconceptions and encouraged empathy.” she states.
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Shanthi Priya
Anjali and Shanthi’s sequence took a different turn than they had anticipated and the unvarnished moment was included in the final cut! reveals Shanthi. “A film is genuinely unique because of such unplanned sparks.” The yesteryear actress also thinks that filmmaking has changed, with greater creative flexibility and character development. “Actors now have the freedom to try new things, unlike in the past when they had to work with strict schedules and predetermined formats. Being a part of this new narrative trend is exciting,” she adds.
“I’m feeling emotional right now. It never occurred to me that this day might arrive when I stepped away from movies. The fact that “Bad Girl” can be represented on a global scale demonstrates that there is no end to the cinema and that fresh starts are always possible. I hope that people will be motivated by this experience to embrace change and follow their passions at any time,” she reveals on an emotional note.
Shanthi Priya, Saranya Ravichandran, TeeJay Arunasalam, Hridhu Haroon, Anjali Sivaraman and Sashank Bommireddipalli are part of the cast in Bad Girl. This year will see the theatrical debut of Bad Girl, which is directed by Varsha Bharath. No date has been set yet!
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