This Chennai girl took up engineering but turned a model only to finally land up in Bala’s Avan Ivan. “I did my computer engineering from Savitha Engineering College,” beams Janani Iyer, who makes her debut in this film. After graduation, she did modelling and has over 150 ads to her credit.
So how did she become one of the heroines in Avan Ivan? “Bala was looking for a new face and I auditioned. The rest is history,” she laughs. Playing a cop in the film opposite Vishal, Janani explains, “It’s a comic role and I had a blast. I had a tough time keeping a straight face and had to control my laughter most of the time.”
But she gives all the credit to Bala. “I haven’t acted in the film, I just imitated Bala. I went to him like wet clay and he moulded me.” Janani recalls that she always admired his films and never dreamt that she would soon be a part of one!
Was the debutant awe- struck by the star cast? “I was reticent at first but the team made me comfy soon. I never felt like a newcomer. Vishal used to rehearse my lines with me and whenever I got tense, he would reassure me,” says the actor and adds, “I was so surprised that despite being a star Vishal had no airs. Arya too was very supportive and advised me to just do what Bala said.”
Ask her about cat fights and insecurity thanks to another heroine and she laughs, “Madhu and I got along very well since we both are from the modelling field. Everybody will be noticed in this film. Each character is finely etched.”
