Midway through our conversation with actor Regena Cassandrra about her upcoming film, Mookuthi Amman 2, which hits screens on Friday, we took an interesting detour to Meghalaya. “Do you know about this Shillong-based game of Teer and the world of dreams? The bets on the game are placed based on the dreams we have. What we see in our dreams determines the numbers we pick, and isn’t that a fascinating exploration of how our innermost thoughts find resonance?” asks Regena with a sense of grounded fascination. This aspect shines through in the conversation, and Regena often brings it up to explain her present state of mind. “I'm someone who likes to be grounded and in touch with my intuition and all of these things.”
That’s the beauty of a free-flowing conversation. One moment you might be on the sets of Mookuthi Amman 2, and in the next, you are nestled in a gambling ring in Shillong. You could hear an anecdote about clairvoyance, then the concept of telepathy and animal communicators, and suddenly find yourself talking about the 60-ft cutout erected for Nayanthara as part of the promotional drive for Mookuthi Amman 2. Life is a box of tarot cards, I guess. “I don't mind saying these things because it's what I believe in,” says an assured Regena, adding, “I spoke with people about how they reached out to animal communicators. These things make me very curious. In fact, I'm curious about everything in life, and of course, I might burn my fingers in the process, but that’s par for the course.”
It is with this cavalier attitude that she approached her film career for the longest time. However, Regena has now decided that change isn’t a bad thing at all, especially if you see it as evolution. “I’ve been in films for over two decades now. So, it is a lot of work to change people’s perception of you. Till now, I've let everyone have their own perspective of me, but it is time to wrest the narrative into my own hands. I can’t blame them for calling me ‘underrated’ or for my work not reaching the masses, yet. That’s on me, and I don’t want to blame anyone else. That’s where my intuitions have kicked in,” says Regena, who credits this instinct for making her say yes to Sundar C’s Mookuthi Amman 2, headlined by Nayanthara. She plays Bhavani, the dreaded antagonist to the divine presence in the film, and the thought train stops at a rather interesting station. “Don’t you think ‘villi’ is a term that is so unique to the Tamil ecosystem? Who would have thought ‘villi’ is the right term for a female villain? Fascinating, right?” points out Regena, who returns to Mookuthi Amman 2 by elucidating why she thinks Sundar C has cracked the code in this sequel. “The better the villain, or rather villi, in my case, the better elevation for the lead, right? That’s why it is important to write both parts properly, and I think that has happened in Mookuthi Amman 2.”
Personifying evil is an underrated but hugely rewarding process. Actors like Karan and Nizhalgal Ravi played these evil characters to the gallery in the Amman films of the 90s, and this time, Regena is taking up that mantle. Playing the ‘villi’ isn’t exactly new territory for Regena, who has done a solid job in a few films, including Chakra, Jaat, and Seven. She brings a sense of suaveness when required, and she loves to ham it up, too. But sometimes, making evil look cool isn't always the best thing to do. With conversations about political correctness and the societal responsibility of artistes growing louder, Regena believes blaming just the field of cinema might not be the right thing to do. “In an ideal world, you can rest easy that nothing will be taken out of context. But we aren’t living in one. Also, we have always heard one generation call the next ‘snowflakes,’ and it is no different now. Of course, I cannot be liked by everyone. I am not biriyani, right?” says Regena, adding, “But at the end of the day, all of us have a responsibility to society, right? Many pass it off to cinema and take the easy way out. It’s important that you, me, parents, children, students… everyone takes up responsibility for their actions. Where’s your accountability and responsibility? Again, many blame social media and algorithms, but it is our hands that scroll down that content. But I agree that when you have the power to influence, you need a sense of responsibility… You know what Spider-Man said, right?”
As someone who believes she is her harshest critic, Regena believes the past couple of years have taught her that it is okay not to have all the answers, that it's never too late to correct course, make amends, overturn decisions, change outlooks, and start afresh. “Today, the bigger challenge is to be yourself in a world that constantly wants to change you or influence you to follow the herd. But it is also imperative to understand that not all changes are bad. I have grown up believing I shouldn’t do wrong by anyone. But that doesn’t mean I should allow my happiness to be compromised,” says Regena, who asserts that putting herself first hasn’t been easy, but it is an important step towards understanding what she needs from her life and career. “The universe will constantly keep testing you to see if this is exactly what you want, or was it just a fleeting thought. I changed my team of 8 years to ensure that the people around me want the right things for me, and look out for me as much as I’d do for them. There should come a time when an artiste, or anyone, for that matter, must realise that mediocrity just doesn’t cut it. With great power comes great responsibility… for yourself, as well,” signs off Regena with a smile.
