Vani Viswanath, a beloved name in Malayalam cinema, was once dubbed the “Action Queen” of the industry, known for her powerful and often more dominant roles than the male leads in many films.

Speaking candidly about her early days in cinema, Vani recalled the initial fear she felt when working alongside some of Malayalam cinema’s biggest stars. “When I first worked with Mammookka, Lalettan, and Suresh Gopi, I was terrified. But when the crew said ‘Start, Camera, Action,’ I would forget everything else,” Vani shared. Despite her nervousness, the actress found her courage through these iconic actors, saying, “When I was acting in front of Mammookka and Lalettan, there was a fear inside me. But once the camera rolled, I felt a boldness come over me, as if I could do anything, even jump from the 25th floor.”

Vani Viswanath shared her experiences in a recent interview with News18 Kerala.

Vani’s ability to play strong, assertive characters in films often overshadowed the male leads. She recalled how, in many of these films, her roles were as powerful, if not more so, than the heroes themselves. “Acting with such great actors gave me the strength to stand tall and hold my ground,” she added.

While Vani is a celebrated figure on-screen, she said that outside of films, she is just a regular person like everyone else – the real her.

With a career spanning several decades and a legacy of powerful roles, Vani Viswanath continues to be cherished by her fans for her strong screen presence, while also maintaining her humility and authenticity off-screen.

Her latest film, Oru Anveshanathinte Thudakkam, was released in theatres today. (With inputs from Agencies)