She debuted with Bharthi Raja’s Eera Nilam as Nanditha and acted in around 30 films. Her last few films were Anandam and Vasantham Vandachu, post which she settled for a life of marital bliss with cameraman Kasi Visvanathan. Now, the heroine returns to the big screen, but under her original name, Jennifer.
“There are many others called Nanditha, so I returned to my own name,” she explains. Ravana Desam, opposite Ajay Nuthaki, marks her re-entry as heroine. In a chat with CE, Jennifer talks about her hiatus and her expectations from the industry.
“I had told my husband that I would return to acting later. He has been very supportive,” reveals Jennifer. She plays a Sri Lankan refugee in the film. Jennifer took up the role because she felt strongly about the subject.
“It centres around events affecting the lives of the central characters, when they spend several days in a boat at sea.” The poignant tale was shot near Kakinada, where Jennifer spent around 90 days shooting under hot sun. “We had to shoot for days on a boat at the sea. It was then that I felt the sufferings of such refugees, as they survive with meagre food, in mid sea, under the harsh sun.”
When Ajay Nuthaki, who is director and hero, approached her for the role, Jennifer felt it was the apt role for her comeback after a 4-year hiatus.
Will her married status alter her prospects of returning as heroine? Jennifer feels strongly on the subject, “I think that a heroine’s life is not over after marriage. People think they can do only sister’s, anni’s or aunty’s roles. But I intend to break this myth ! I am as physically fit as I was earlier. Nothing has changed for me. So why shouldn’t I seek heroine roles?”
She further adds, “I may not have changed. But in these past few years, the industry seems to have changed considerably. Now, girls from other states who cant speak Tamil are getting work here. Many girls like myself, who are talented and speak Tamil fluently, are being overlooked. Why not give us the same opportunities?” Jennifer, who is the daughter of choreographer Chinna, has choreographed one of the songs for for this bi-lingual Tamil Telugu flick.
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