Anupama Parameswaran is one of the busiest actors in South Indian cinema, juggling projects in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam. Her latest Telugu film, Crazy Kalyanam, may not have been a commercial success, but Anupama earned praise for her performance.
With nearly 10 films in hand across South Indian languages, the actor has also announced her upcoming Hindi debut. “I am free and very happy now. I have some positivity. I don't know what it is, but I am in a completely positive and happy space now,” she said.
Anupama's characters often leave a strong impression, but how much does she involve herself in shaping the role? “It depends on the story and the director, especially the rapport between the team and me. If I don't have a voice, I don't speak at all. I keep quiet and do my work. If they value my opinion and there is room for discussion, I will definitely contribute. For Crazy Kalyanam, I discussed my character with director Badrappa Gajula extensively before scenes, and then we performed them,” said Anupama, who strongly believes healthy discussions can help improve a scene. This also might lead to last-minute changes in the narrative and dialogue, and Anupama is completely for such improvements. "I prepare myself mentally for a particular shoot, and then they suddenly tell me that something has changed. But sometimes, the changes work out well, too. These things are normal, and we have to be prepared for them.”
Throughout her career, Anupama has consistently chosen roles that allow her to explore different genres. “My aim has always been to become a versatile actor. I don't want to keep doing the same genres because that gets boring for me. That's why I did films like Tillu Square, Paradha and Crazy Kalyanam. I also want to do shows, reels, short films and music videos. I don't want to be in a box; I want to explore and keep doing different things,” says Anupama, who brings it all down to her passion for art. “I don't want to work just for the sake of money. I need passion and drive to enjoy my work, and that's why I want to explore different films."
Apart from acting, Anupama also worked as an assistant director on a Malayalam film a few years ago, an experience she considers an important part of her journey. “When I worked as an assistant director, I learnt a lot about cinema in depth. I cherish that memory, and the experience has helped me with my acting and script selections. We see actors on screen, and they receive recognition, but many people behind the scenes may never get that recognition. Working as an AD gave me emotional satisfaction and happiness that I cannot express in words,” says the actor.
In recent interviews, Anupama has also spoken about a difficult phase in her personal life. Asked how she managed to recover emotionally, she says, “First, I realised that my brain wasn't functioning properly, and that's when the change started. My family members and friends helped me a lot. Whatever pain I went through helped me resolve some complicated issues that might have affected my future. So, I started therapy.” Anupama explained that therapy helped her understand the deeper roots of her struggles.
When asked whether that difficult period affected any of her performances, Anupama said she was working on Crazy Kalyanam and Bhogi at the time. “Somehow, I managed well with Crazy Kalyanam. Bhogi is a serious role and has some similarities with my character in Bison. I will always be grateful to Mari sir for giving me a role that made me restart from scratch. When I came to the sets of Bhogi, it was easier for Sampath garu because the body language was similar, and it was easy for me, too,” she said.
With several projects lined up across industries, Anupama has temporarily stopped listening to new scripts to focus on her existing commitments. “I stopped listening to stories because I wanted to complete the films I had already committed to. I don't want directors to wait for me, because things can change a lot. For now, I have signed a Telugu film, completed a Tamil film and have two more Tamil films to do. I have also signed three Malayalam films,” says Anupama, who reveals that she is set to enter Hindi cinema next. “I will see how that Hindi film fits into my current timeline,” she signs off.