Parvathy Nair: ‘Marriage Hasn’t Stopped Me from Choosing Bold Roles’

Actress Parvathy Nair, who began her film career in Kannada cinema, has left her mark in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu industries as well. Recently, she spoke exclusively to Cinibeat about her married life, upcoming films, and her growing interest in directing.

Is there any difference in the movie offers after your marriage?
-There was one film I had signed before marriage. I didn’t hear from them for a while, and later they asked, “Madam, can you share your recent photographs?” The director was worried I might have put on weight. Generally, offers tend to reduce after marriage because people assume you’re no longer interested in acting. And if news spreads that you’ve married a businessman or someone outside the industry, they assume you’ve retired, which is completely untrue.This happens mostly in the South Indian film industry. In Bollywood, people continue acting even after marriage and having children.

Does marriage affect your choice of scripts?
-As of now, I don’t think so. I married someone who loves my profession and supports my acting career. That was one of my main criteria while choosing a life partner. I have friends who were told by their spouses to stop acting after marriage, but in my case, there’s no such restriction. Even if I get offered a love story tomorrow, no one has the right to stop me. We’ve always lived independently, making our own choices—why should someone new come in and change that?

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Can you talk more about your husband, Ashok?
-Yes, he’s Telugu, and ours is a love marriage. We first met in a club, and we happened to have many mutual friends. Although it started as love, the wedding was conducted in a traditional arranged manner. He’s not particularly religious or spiritual, so he didn’t even let me check astrology. He’s a great guy—very supportive.

Are you currently listening to scripts?
-Yes, one film will go on floors this August, and it revolves entirely around my character. A couple of my films are ready for release. Another film, made by a Bombay team in Tamil, has been to film festivals and is now set for release soon. There are also talks about a Kannada film, but that’s still in process. I’m focused on choosing either a great script or a great team—at least one of the two is essential for me.

Which is more important to you—a character or a story?
-I think both are equally important. But nowadays, the making of a film also plays a huge role. A simple story can be elevated into something brilliant with the right direction. A good director can bring out the best in an actor. Modern filmmaking techniques are part of the equation now. At one point, I even considered learning filmmaking because I like being involved in every aspect of a film. A director I once worked with told me, “You should become a director someday—your ideas are really good.”

What differences do you see between the Kannada film industry and other industries?
-The Kannada industry has grown tremendously. Films like KGF and Kantara have set very high standards in terms of making. Even small yet touching films like Dia left me emotional. I’d love to be part of such cinema. In Mr. Rani, I chose the project purely for the script. It was crowdfunded, and I even agreed to defer part of my payment until after the collections, because I believed in the team’s vision. They weren’t making the film just for money—they wanted a quality product. In Kannada, I see filmmakers striving to create something new and unique, rather than just producing another movie to make quick profits. The passion for cinema has grown, and now the entire country—and even the world—is taking notice of Kannada films.

Do you feel you haven’t received the recognition or the kind of roles you deserve?
-I’ve always wanted more recognition and performance-oriented characters. Sometimes I got strong roles but with limited screen time; other times, good films didn’t get the reach they deserved. There was one of my films that did reasonably well in theatres, but when it came to YouTube, it received a flood of appreciation. Still, there are many roles I dream of doing. In our industry, casting sometimes changes at the last minute—either due to a bigger name being available or recommendations. I’m particularly fond of historic and period roles. I’m still unsatisfied—I think most actors feel that way.

Any plans to direct a movie?
-Definitely, yes. The only challenge is that when you’re young and still an actress, not everyone takes you seriously as a director. If I pitch to a big actor, they might wonder, “What can she do?” I’ve been thinking about starting with something small to prove myself. I do have dream projects, but if I get the chance to direct, I’d gladly take it.

What about your upcoming movies?
-I’m starting work on Report soon. Then there’s Un Parve and Alambana, which are awaiting release. Upparel, which went to several film festivals, is one of the projects I’m truly satisfied with in terms of performance. I hope it gets a good release, even if it’s on OTT.

What are your views on the Hema Committee and the drug abuse issue in the Malayalam industry?
-The Hema Committee is a good step—it will encourage more young talents who are currently hesitant to enter the industry. However, I feel some people misuse this by targeting individuals without proof. That’s unfair. Regarding drug abuse, I believe the industry should have zero tolerance. But I also feel actors are sometimes targeted more than others just because it makes headlines. In reality, substance abuse exists in schools, colleges, and many other places, yet the spotlight is often unfairly fixed on actors.

What are your thoughts on the 8-hour work shift in the industry?
-I’ve worked on films where we shot day and night. In smaller budget films, even if you’re the lead, you work extremely hard without the luxuries of big productions. In bigger films, you get better facilities and assistance.I believe it’s about choice—if you agree to a certain kind of project, you should commit to its demands. No one is forcing you to take up a film. The freedom to choose according to your convenience is important.