There is nothing that is a complete no for me: Niharika Konidela

There is nothing that is a complete no for me: Niharika Konidela

Niharika Konidela made her Tamil debut with 2018’s Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren. Six years later, she is returning to Tamil cinema with Madraskaaran, co-starring Shane Nigam. She talks to us about her delayed return to Tamil, her career as a producer, as well as her love for Tamil and Chennai… It’s been six years since your first and only Tamil film was released… After I did my first Tamil film, Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren, I went back to Hyderabad, got busy with my production, and then, COVID happened. I have always said that Tamil is my favourite language after my mother tongue and that I would love to work here. So, hopefully, you guys will see me a lot more in Tamil.

‘Tamil language sounds beautiful to me’My family was in Chennai till June 1993, but I was born the same year, in December. So, my family speaks Tamil, and the language sounds beautiful to me. When I was younger, I didn’t come to Chennai that much. I only came here to shoot Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren. At that time, I stayed here for two to three months. One of the reasons why I like Chennai is because I love beaches, and there are a lot of beaches here.

A change you see in yourself from Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren to Madraskaaran…I’m more mature now. So, I can probably select better scripts. Back then, I was 23 or 24, and didn’t have that much clarity on what I was choosing, because I was very young. Now, I am clearer about what sort of scripts I want to be part of.

On working with Shane Nigam…I’ve seen Shane’s films like Ishq, RDX and Kumbalangi Nights. I’m looking forward to working with him because he’s a very talented actor.

What makes you excited to do a film?I won’t say I’ll do a film only if the entire story revolves around me, but the project has to be interesting for me to wake up every morning and be excited about going for its shoot. If that excitement is not there, I don’t want to do that film. I want to play characters that are a little different from who I’m in real life. I like to play more settled characters. I’d also like to play vibrant characters, but only if they present me differently.

How do you simultaneously manage production and acting?It’s a bit tricky now that I’m doing a Tamil film. I’m looking forward to doing more Tamil films. So, my work will be in Chennai, and my production will be in Hyderabad. Fortunately, I have a good production team. Right now, we’re producing our first feature film. It’s tentatively called Project CK. We are introducing 11 new heroes through the film.

Earlier, you’d said glamorous roles were a complete no for you. Now, is there anything that’s a complete no for you?The meaning of glamorous roles has changed now. If it’s not necessary for me to wear a skirt, then I won’t wear it. But if I’m playing a very high fashion rich kid who is coming out of a club, then I will have to dress accordingly. But right now, there’s nothing that’s a complete no for me.

‘for me the entire film has to be nicely written’It’s an intriguing script with lots of action and ego conflicts. I’ve been waiting for the right script to come my way, and Madraskaaran is that script for me. I’m an actor who doesn’t just look at my character when doing a film. The entire film has to be nicely written, and that was the case with Madraskaaran. Also, the relationship that my character shares with Shane’s in the film is poetic and beautiful. It’s not childish love, and the problems they face are mature.

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