Madhoo: I missed wearing make-up and being creative

From cameo in Thalaivii to playing a cop in upcoming movie Dejavu, Roja actor Madhoo discusses returning to her first love

Once an actor, always an actor. That’s what I believe,” says Madhoo, who is enjoying her second innings in the movies. Ever since the first lockdown in 2020 ended, the Roja (1992) actor has been unusually busy — from shooting a cameo in Thalaivii (2021) to playing a supporting role in Arjun Rampal-starrer Nail Polish (2021). Now, the actor is gearing up for Dejavu, Arvindh Srinivasan’s thriller that will be released in Tamil and Telugu. “We shot the film in Chennai and Hyderabad. I play a senior, tough-talking police officer, which is completely different from the girl-next-door image that I had,” she says.

The film is only the first of the five projects, including an Amazon Prime Video original Sweet Karam Coffee and mythological drama Shakuntala, lined up for the year. She is happy to note that the roles for female actors have become meaty over the years. “My roles now come with an edgy twist. I played a villain in Agni Devi. After being away from the film industry, I discovered how important acting was to me.” 

After tying the knot with businessman Anand Shah in 1999, Madhoo let acting take a backseat, happy to do only guest appearances that didn’t demand too much time away from home. Facing the camera for Thalaivii made her realise how deeply she missed the creative energy of films. “I missed being on the sets, wearing make-up and being creative. With Thalaivii, I saw myself on the big screen after years. The current scenario provides opportunities for actors like me; we can play our age now.”  

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