Film gene runs in her family. From mom Urmila Unni to cousin Samyukta Varma , whoever has stepped into Tinseltown from her clan has left behind an indelible mark.
“So it’s all the more important that I do my part well,” says Uthara Unni , who is all set to take her maiden step on the silver screen with director Suresh’s ‘Vavwal Kottai’.
The teenage love story has the Kochiite playing an Iyengar girl opposite newcomer Rahul.
But why Tamil first? “I was getting a handful of offers from Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil. With my mom’s guidance, I decided to make my debut with this film because my role is substantial.”
The first schedule of the film, mostly shot in and around Kumbakonam, got over last month and Uthara is looking forward to the second schedule next week in Chennai as much as she’s looking forward to her Plus Two result.
“Thankfully, the shoot began only after I was through with my exams,” says the class XII student of Mar Thoma School, Kakkanad, who hopes to make it to Loyola College, Chennai, as a student of visual communication.
Uthara had tried her luck in modelling before Kollywood came calling. Her ads for Bheema Jewellery, Emmanuval Silks and Dhathri brought her closer to her Kollywood dream. But the first few days she had on the sets of the film was gruelling. “Neither could I speak Tamil nor could I follow it. So I had a tough time communicating with the crew and understanding what they said. But in a few days, I got the hang of it and things became easier. Suresh, the director of the film who had directed Simran and Sarat Kumar in the blockbuster ‘Arasu’, was a great help,” Uthara says.
The teenager says that her mother Urmila and cousin Samyukta will always play a pivotal role in her career as an actor. “Both of them have been the deciding forces behind my debut with ‘Vavwal Kottai’. They have been in the industry for long and know what suits me best. The duo have given me all the encouragement and guidance that a debutante could ever ask for.” ‘Vavwal Kottai’ is scheduled for an August release.
Meanwhile, Uthara is honing her acting skills for her Malayalam debut. “Ranji Panicker is a close family friend. My first Malayalam film came my way through him,” Uthara says. The yet-to-be-named project has its script written by Panicker and will be directed by Viji Thampy. The shooting is scheduled to begin in August. Uthara is now reading scripts with her mom for her Telugu debut.
“I have a couple of offers and am trying to figure out the best of the lot.” A classical dancer who has taken her lessons from none other than her mother, Uthara is also into painting and sketching. Mom has always been my inspiration, she says. Ask her what advice Urmila had for her on her leap to the big screen and Uthara says, “She wants me to be a thorough-bred professional from the start.
She was with me on the sets of ‘Vavwal Kottai’ to cheer and criticise,” says the budding actor who admires Nedumudi Venu’s acting and Deepika Padukone’s style statements.
As for now, here’s wishing the latest Malayali presence in Kollywood good luck.