My roles mirror my traits: Nazriya Nazim

Actor Nazriya Nazim has made an amazing comeback with the movie 'Koode' which is garnering positive reviews from all corners. After a sabbatical of four years, Nazriya has once again thrilled the Malayali audience as the lovely Jenny in the Anjali Menon film. She still tops the list of Malayali actors who has the most number of followers on Facebook. Nazriya talks about her latest movie and her future plans.

Comments of colleagues

“May be because everyone loves me so much, they only have great opinions about the movie. Those who watched the movie, including Dulquer Salman, said that they were happy to see me on screen again. I had watched the movie at a multiplex in Kochi. The audience was enjoying it. Fahadh has still not watched the film as he is busy shooting,” says Nazriya about 'Koode'.

The actress said that she had no plans to take a break from the movies for four years. She, however, added she just took some time off to settle in her life post wedding. Nazriya said, “It was not a sacrifice that I made. I enjoyed that time doing a lot of other things that I liked. Fahadh has always told me to do films with whom I am comfortable. Though many offers came my way, I was busy with a totally different life.”

A first in career

Nazriya said that 'Koode' director Anjaly Menon is one of her close friends. Anjaly too had taken a break from the movie after her blockbuster movie 'Bangalore Days'. She added that the filmmaker had hinted about the role in her new movie when the latter had begun writing 'Koode'’s screenplay. “Anjali narrated the story when she came to Kochi, and made me read the entire script. It was for the first time that I had read the screenplay of a movie. Usually I would sign a movie after listening to its one line, and then read the dialogues on the sets,” she revealed.

The actress confesses that though she was confident to face the camera again, she was a bit worried whether she would be able to nail the timing. However after attending the camp at Ooty in which all the actors and crew members took part, Nazriya became more confident. Jenny, the character essayed by Nazriya in 'Koode', is bubbly and fun-loving, just like all the roles she had played in her previous movies.

She says that she had tried to play the role of Jenny in the most convincing way possible as there was an element of surprise in the narrative.

Next project

“I am a person who doesn’t plan movies. I have not been offered any new projects after 'Koode' released. But discussions of a project in which I would be acting along with Fahadh are underway. More details of it could be revealed only after things are finalised. I will definitely continue acting if good roles come my way. Since everyone in the family, including Fahadh is in the movies, I never felt I have missed films in the last four years. In between I became a co-producer of the movie 'Varathan' directed by Amal Neerad. It was then I understood that acting was so easy. I was not a strict producer who regularly kept a check on the accounts and demanded budget cuts. It was very comfortable as there was Amal as well. The filming of the movie is over and will hit the screens for Onam,” Nazriya disclosed.

Roles so far

One likely reason the actress does her roles convincingly could be that they reflect her persona. “Though I haven’t acted in a lot of movies, there has always been a trait of my own character in all the roles that I have done. It must be the reason why I was able to play those characters loved by the audience. However, those who know me very well say that I am so similar to the character that I played in 'Om Shanti Oshana',” Nazriya recalled her previous roles.

Filmy associations

Nazriya said that since she is not an active member of AMMA, she found it pointless to join another organisation like the WCC. She adds that since she is so close to many members of the WCC, including Anjaly Menon and actress Parvathy, she doesn’t need an association to share her ideas with them. “We discussed many issues during the filming of 'Koode'. Everyone has rights and it ought to be protected. The problems between WCC and AMMA should be sorted out through proper discussions. When a movie is made, it is not called a WCC movie or an AMMA movie. Everyone works together, so a solution has to be made by acknowledging everyone’s opinions.” Nazriya remarked.

Extreme reactions

Nazriya recalls how during the time of filming 'Koode', actress Parvathy faced a scathing attack on the social media. “She had faced a very bad situation. But Parvathy is an incredibly strong personality. None of it bothered her as a professional. Cyberattacks are never justifiable. We cannot completely ignore the words of the audience who actually made us what we are. We may have to listen to their opinions, and face their questions. But there should clearly be a limit for expressing their opinions or emotions. Since we are celebrities, our words would be noticed. So we too should be careful about it,” concluded Nazriya.