Nazriya Nazim on her comeback movie Koode

The actress opens up about working alongside Prithviraj and Anjali Menon in her comeback vehicle Koode

With her impish smile and girl-next-door demeanor,  it didn't take long for Nazriya Nazim to charm her way into every Malayali household when she burst into the limelight. Having started her career as a child artist, Nazriya made her name as a television anchor before venturing into lead roles in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. While her role in Neram (2013) was much talked about, it was Ohm Shanthi Oshaana (2014), opposite Nivin Pauly, that truly showcased this vivacious actress's reach. She followed it up with Samsaaram Arogyathinu Haanikaram with Dulquer Salmaan, but the movie she did after that was the one that was destined to be her crowning glory - Anjali Menon's directorial Bangalore Days where alongside Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly, Fahadh Faasil and Parvathy, she more than proved her mettle. Following her whirlwind wedding with co-actor Fahadh Faasil she took a break from movies much to the disappointment of cinema lovers. 
Now she's of course back with Anjali Menon's much-talked about Koode (currently playing in UAE theatres) that stars her alongside Prithviraj and Parvathy. While audience reaction to the movie has been divided, with many unfairly comparing it to Menon's previous hit Bangalore Days, the cast have received a unanimous thumbs up from viewers.
What's next for Nazriya?
When we caught up with Nazriya over the phone recently she admitted that there was indeed trepidation about taking on a project which would invariably be compared to her last hit (Bangalore Days) before her sabbatical from movies. "That was one of my concerns," she confesses, "but I trusted Anjali Menon. That's why I decided to do this film though I might have heard one or two (scripts) before. Trust is what really helped me and all the fears were left behind." 
And what fears would that be? "Like I keep saying it was her and my outing after four years. Worries were about whether I was still used to the shooting timings, since I had been away for 4 years. I'd keep asking, 'will I still remember how to act?' But it is all the same."
A fact that audiences unanimously agree on. As the garrulous, 20-something Jenny, who brings loads of cheer and laughter, alongside some moments of serious reflections, to her more sedate brother Joshua's life post a tragedy in the family, Nazriya showed she had lost none of her charm and spontaneity. Confined within a van for much of the film's two-and-a half-hour narrative, she is still able to reflect a wide range of emotions beautifully - from one of light-hearted joy and humour to a deep sense of sadness and pain.
The young actors
Nazriya is probably one of those rare actors who have shared screen space with all of the Malayalam film industry's current generation of heartthrobs, be it Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly, Fahadh Faasil or Prithviraj. In fact Koode has a lot of tongue-in-cheek references to her crush on Dulquer which she says was all Anjali Menon's idea. "She knows how we are in real life (the duo are good friends off screen) and that it would be easier for me to act like a Dulquer fan," admits Nazriya.
She shares a different equation with her Koode costar Prithviraj, whom she had reportedly not interacted with prior to the movie but grew close to during the shoot. "He is not this strong macho guy you see outside. He's really innocent and vulnerable. I think in Koode his character is a lot like how he is in real life." As for the actor who has been tagged her lucky mascot, Nivin Pauly - they acted together in Neram, Ohm Shanthi Oshaana and Bangalore Days -  she says they are similar in many ways. "When action is said and something funny happens, we both cannot control our laughter even if we are not supposed to," she tells us with a laugh. For her former co-actor and now husband Fahadh Faasil, she has only praise. "As an actor he is very hardworking and honest; he's someone who wants to make the director really happy," she shares.
"I wish I was as hard working as he is but I'm not..."
It is Fahadh who she credits with turning her into a dog lover as well. "During Bangalore Days I was petrified of dogs - this time it was easier to work along with Brownie (the dog who plays her pet in Koode). Fahad is the reason why I got used to dogs. In their family everyone is a dog lover. In Koode it was literally Brownie on top of me, so much so that my own pet would be jealous!"
Close to cinema
Going forward, Nazriya is keen to showcase her variety as an actress in the roles she takes up. She may not be willing to let us in on other projects she has in hand (except to acknowledge her turn as a producer in Fahadh Faasil's next venture Varathan), but as she herself admits: "I have never planned to take a four-year break- if something comes up anytime soon I would take it up.
"I don't really plan that this should be my next project or this is the kind of role I want to do. It is all about when I hear the script and a particular role, and my only concern is if I can do that role. There is nothing like a dream role or something. of course I want to do something different like every movie of mine has been," says the actress who counts people's warm reception to her character in Koode as the best compliment she could have ever received on her comeback.
In a recent interview Nazriya had spoken about how people 'assumed' she would be taking a break from movies post her marriage. But in our conversation she makes it clear that she wasn't upset with society for thinking so. "After all there are a lot of people who chose to do that (give up their career) after marriage, so you can't blame society," is her reasoning. 
"But anyone who knew me knew that I wasn't against acting or anything. That this long break wasn't planned..
She's also clear that in the four years when she was busy travelling and setting up her house she wasn't cut off from the movie industry.
"Cinema is something that has always been around. Like everyone in the family is into it. it's not like I wasn't aware of what was happening and I'm someone who enjoys being off screen, just on the sets also."
Connect with the UAE
Both director Anjali Menon and actress Nazriya Nazim share a special connect with the UAE.
When we ask her about her childhood memories of growing up in Al Ain, Nazriya says: "How can I point out one; all my memories are there. Even now when I come back here (to the UAE), it is like home. They have literally seen me grow up- they have seen me doing stage shows or anchoring - people there have seen me grow and they have always been supportive - it's an amazing feeling."
For Anjali Menon, showcasing Koode to the local audience is an exciting prospect in more than one way. "The GCC is home ground in many ways," she tells us. "It's the first time I have shot a film there (the opening sequence in an oil refinery in Sharjah) and having grown up there I'm very keen to see what the crowd there thinks about the film."
'Believe in yourself no matter what'
Just like her director Anjali Menon who believes in gender neutrality when it comes to her filmmaking role, Nazriya is equally vocal about her equation with her directors.
"I don't think it has anything to do with being a woman or a man. it is about how human beings are. So I felt equally comfortable with a lot of male directors - I can't lie and say because she is a female director (I was more comfortable). it's because she is Anjali Menon and how she is, how she creates an atmosphere - it isn't because she is a woman. It isn't that for me.. I've had really good experiences working with men in this industry. I keep saying that I haven't gone through or faced any of these issues that has been raised now," she says referencing the recent controversies the Malayalam Film Industry has been embroiled in.
"But it is a really good phase we are at right now because everyone has a say, even women are allowed to have their own association which is a good thing."
So are things different in the industry compared to when she started out?
 "Things are slowly opening up; people are speaking and people are ready to hear what others have to say and that's a good thing."
Nazriya is quite clear about her message to every youngster out there: "Be yourself. Be honest and do your best. Be hardworking towards whatever you want in life.
"Believe in yourself no matter what you are going through."
 
Ambica Sachin
ambica@khaleejtimes.com 

• South Stars