Actress Sheela opens up about her take on new-age romance

Actress Sheela, who played Prem Nazir’s mother 40 years ago in ‘Makane Ninakkuvendi’ and his mother-in-law in ‘Ezhuthatha Kadhakal, will be seen as Johny Antony’s mother in the upcoming film ‘Anuragam’, which will hit theatres on May 5.

The actress who was in Kochi for the promotion of the film, looked lovely as she wore a stunning Kanchipuram sari, colourful bangles, a red bindi, charming red earrings and a gajra.

Johny Antony, who sat next to her, started pulling her leg. “Sheelamma…why do you love colours so much,” asks Johny Antony. Her answer was quick: “Are there women who don’t love colours? I love colours beyond acrylics, watercolours and oil paints. There is a special energy, joy, and confidence I derive when I dress up in colorful finery,” she said. To this, Johny Antony quips: “When Sheelamma who always loved colours was the evergreen heroine in Malayalam cinema, the films were all black and white. Now she is compensating for it,” said Johny Antony with a laugh.

However, both of them soon turned serious as they recalled a dangerous incident that occurred on the last day of the shoot.

“In that shot, Johny Antony was driving a scooter and I was sitting behind him. When I moved slightly, we lost our balance and the scooter crashed into a rock. I fell from the scooter. Though I was hurt, I told them to continue the shoot since I didn’t want to stall the schedule.

Johny Antony says he was really hassled by the incident. “I was perplexed to see Sheelamma who used to safely ride with Prem Nazir on a horse, fall from my scooter. But Sheelamma told me not to worry and said she was fine. That was such a relief for me.”

However, Sheela who returned to Chennai, was told that she had fractured a bone near the spinal cord, when she underwent an MRI scan at the Chennai Apollo Hospital. The fractured bone had impaled on the other. She had to undergo a six-hour long surgery, followed by three months of bed rest. She attended the dubbing session wearing a belt. But Sheela says now she is fine.

Her answer to new-age romance is interesting. “Earlier you had to buy rice and pound it at a mill to make puttu flour. Now it is readily available at the shop. The same change has happened to love as well. I would like to think that I am still 18 years old. I still look at the camera adoringly. I am a good woman who has not cheated anyone. I live happily on the strength of my friendships. That keeps me young. Those who don’t have a life partner or children with them, should have good friends with them. Someone who is there during the ups and downs in your life. It is fortunate to have such friends with you.