In every artist’s life, there may be that one film that keeps giving them, no matter how old it gets. For Aishwarya Lekshmi, it’s Ammu, which not only won her praises, but also women’s empathy.

“I am still going to get an award for Ammu in this month. It is a film that keeps giving, and every effort I have put into it, has come back to me in many ways. Not just in terms of awards, but how every woman speaks to me about the film. And only women speak to me about it. I wish men do it too,” says Aishwarya Lekshmi as she chats exclusively with OTTplay.

From playing a domestic abuse survivor in Ammu, to a woman in grief in Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa’s Nizhal Tharum Idham and a no-nonsense Keerthi in Gatta Kusthi, the actor says how she very much relates to these characters herself and the vulnerabilities they show.

Aishwarya Lekshmi interview

“I am a vulnerable person but there is also another side to it. If I may say this, Gatta Kusthi is the last Tamil film I shot for and it was in 2022. Now after 2023, and mid of 2024, I am yet to shoot for Tamil film. I shot Pon Ondru Kanden in 2021. It is so sad because the source of stories are writers and they have to act something so we can perform. I am also grateful that since I am not limited to one language, the supply of work I get are through the channel of multiple languages,” Aishwarya Lekshmi notes.

At the same time, the actor also candidly says, “It’s so sad that I have not got my due after Gatta Kusthi. I feel disappointed that Tamil films have still not given me something very nice after it. As a human being we are also prone to discount the efforts we put in and sometimes think, why is Tamil cinema not giving any roles. Is it because I don’t speak Tamil properly? It is not that I have not gotten opportunities, it is just I have not gotten good opportunities. I have a good family at Madras Talkies and discuss with them sometimes on what kind of work I can take up.”

But what’s the issue she thinks? “We all think about business and money, the budgets an actor comes with. In such cases, stories are made according to that budget. Some projects are written for business, instead for humans. How many of stories of today’s time and relatability do we see? For example, Thiruchitrambalam was relatable, so the cinematic liberties can be let gone. But it is the world creation of films which is a problem now,” the actor mentions.

Biggest fear and King of Kotha impact

Aishwarya Lekshmi reveals how she is headlining a Tamil web series for SonyLIV. “It is very different from the usual conflicts for a central character. I am hoping that I get to do a Tamil film with good female character,” she reveals. On the other hand, the actor also points at romcoms, in which women are tend to be portrayed “bubbly and chirpy” which she understood until the recent past and no longer identify with such roles.

“I am sure I can play that, but I want something more substantial and what other women can relate to. I am not from the reel-creating generation and I need something real,” she laughs. As the conversation veers towards the social media importance, Aishwarya notes that it has created one idealised format, with everyone made to think like to look similar.

As she has no qualms in accepting that her biggest fear is not knowing what her next cinema is, the actor says it’s not about the pay check, but the ambiguity of what her next milestone and character would be. But has she overcome that fear or she has a next milestone? “The fear is still on, and in fact my driving force.” But that doesn’t stop then when Aishwarya opens up about how the downside to it, by giving the post-release reception of her Malayalam film King of Kotha.

“There was a time when the post-release of KOK gave me nights of panic attacks and anxiety. I had not even seen half of the reviews where people were being extremely critical and not kind. That was the point when I evaluated and realised this kind of low will happen in everyone’s career. But I decided to look the positive way and found out that I get a lot of happiness being around nature.” And that’s when Aishwarya discovered her way with solo travels across the world.

In today’s times when everyone can become an actor or reviewer, Aishwarya says that keeping her graceful demeanour intact is the best she can do. “The negativity is something that can affect one’s spirit. There was one point I kept thinking of the KOK debacle. They were all expecting a good film and entertainment had to be given, if they did not find it through it, they will find it other way. I kept thinking it shouldn’t be taken personal and hold to small shimmers of hope.”

Being a producer, Thug Life and more

As we speak on the second anniversary of Gargi, a film Aishwarya co-funded, and asked if she would turn a producer once again, “Both my parents are government officials and I don’t come from money. I have known Gautham Ramachandran (Gargi director) since my first film and I knew he was trying to improve himself. His struggle was up close and personal for me. He has also used me as a sounding board for many ideas, and I have been brutal about it, but with Gargi I found it right to put my money there. Being an impulsive person, I wanted to have my money to keep the ball rolling but was sure he doesn’t lose and give it back. We did not even care of profits but that he makes a good film. But for now, I want to concentrate on my acting and I really enjoy my slow living. I will let the time decide when I have to produce.”

Speaking about Thug Life for which she is yet to commence shooting, Aishwarya says that one week with Mani Ratnam is enough to understand how to be on sets. “You can be a terrible actor but if you are on your behaviour and respectable, that is what is needed more. It is always about cinema and the scene you are doing, with Mani sir. All I am looking forward is see there when Kamal sir and Man Ratnam sir are doing a scene, know about Simbu sir’s process and how they are at work,” she says.

Aishwarya also recalls an incident when one of her former co-stars had questioned her if anybody has worked with her again. “It was framed in a way to make me feel not good, or I found it negative. It threw me off for a second and I began overthinking.. and then that’s when I realised Mani sir has repeated me. There are a lot of factors which determine if I am in a project or not, and for someone to randomly pop up that question, threw me away.”

Trying out comedy

Aishwarya is also someone who has been vocal about wanting to do comedy onscreen. Having films like Kumari, Mayanadhi, Ammu, and likes which are very genre specific, she says that comedy for women has to improve. “Most of the writers are men and probably most of their soulful connections are with their mothers or partners, so when you look films, they have strong mother or wife characters. I am not sure if men have not laughed enough with women, being the root cause. For example, if you see Fleabag, which has dark comedy and fourth wall breaking, which I want to do ever since I saw it. In case of Barbie, when the director’s comment takes a dig at Margot Robbie herself. I enjoy such films and can come only when female writers are introduced and men look connections with women beyond mothers and partners,” Aishwarya says.

Asked if her Malayalam film Hello Mommy allows her to do comedy, “It is a fantasy comedy, has a supernatural element and more like emotions wrapped in comedy. But I still don’t get to do comedy, so yes. I think I have been stereotyped, and there is no point in denying that, but I will consciously break out from it and it’s a challenge I am not afraid taking up,” she concludes.

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