The name ‘Abhilasha’ is sure to ring a bell in the minds of Malayali film goers, especially of the 80s and early 90s. Even if her name doesn’t sound familiar, few would have forgotten her sizzling performance in the movie ‘Aadipapam’. Though none of her movies can be called mainstream, Abhilasha was a presence in popular movies of the time. After a break of more than 10 years Abhilasha, who is of Kannada origin, is now back in Kerala, all set to re-enter the industry.
Dressed in a fitted top and black jeans, she hardly looks her age. “For many years I have been on a break, taking care of my daughter,” she says. Her daughter Sona who is 12 now, has already acted in a couple of Kannada movies and dreams of making it big in tinseldom.
Nothing has been finalised about her upcoming movie, she says. “But I’m open to offers from Malayalam,” she says. So would she do a mother role? “Yes, if the film is of a good banner.” She acted in two Kannada movies recently; in an ‘aunt’ role in one, and in a glamour role in the other. “I would any day welcome a glamour role in Malayalam,” she says with a laugh.
It was in 1988 that Abhilasha did her first movie in Malayalam- Jungle Boy. From the period 1988-1998 she did around 30 movies.
Kanana Sundari and Layanam by Thulasidas are some among them. Many of them were with director P Chandrakumar. In fact it was Chandrakumar’s brother Sukumar, a photographer, who did the lead role in ‘Aadipapam’.
Abhilasha has co-acted with Jagathy Sreekumar who donned minor roles then. In the movie ‘Enquiry’, actor Ashokan was her costar.
She acted in Tamil movies like Idayam and Vitruvel .
About Malayalam movies today, she says: “The Malayalam movie industry is a model to others. Actors like Meera Jasmine are a boon to it.”
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