Jayanti in Santhvanam is totally negative with saffron and villainy. But life taught Apsara Ratnakaran, who shines as Jayanthi in the serial, not villainy, but selflessness. Those words have the strength to survive a life that once defeated them. Apsara narrated the story with a twist and tears like a serial story when I saw her at home in Thiruvananthapuram.
∙ Has this villain won the audience’s love?
Although he has done negative roles before, he got people’s love beyond his character after Jayantiya in Santhvanam serial. Mothers approach saying ‘I feel like giving a good beating’ when I see them in person. ‘Kushumpi Paru, why are you going there to destroy that family?’ Even on social media, the title of the news about me would be ‘Santvanthile Jayanthi shared words’. All that is recognition as an actress. The happiest day is when everyone comes together on location. Chippy Chechi, who is also a producer, is the first to call to wish her good luck, whether there is a break in the schedule or any news.
∙ Is the character really like Jayanti?
Everyone has a little bit of bitterness and resentment inside of them. Jayanti is a person who reacts by looking at the face of anyone who says something he doesn’t like. I have that habit. There are people who worry about something when they hear it. Some will give back when they get a chance. But I will not show any strife and enmity with dislike in mind. There is another good trait, hard work. It is well known that life will not progress if you do not work hard.
∙ What is that suffering?
Born and brought up in Nandiote village of Thiruvananthapuram district. Father Ratnakan was in the police. Amma Shobhana is a theater actress who used to play a great role in KPAC. Although he made a name for himself by acting in dramas like ‘Nimenenne Komunistaki’, his father did not allow him to act. When I was studying in 8th standard, my father died due to an accident. After finishing higher secondary, he joined MG College, Thiruvananthapuram for a degree in Botany. By then, the serial was busy. I am a little worried about not being able to complete the course. Serial has been my niche for ten years now. One thing to say, my real name is Atulya.
∙ Do you have a passion for acting since childhood?
I got my mother’s artistic talent. When we were in third grade, we staged a play that we had concocted. Teacher Deepa taught monoact after seeing the dance and acting in it. Then, storytelling and dance. A film camp was held in Ayidaku school. I stood in front of the camera for the first time for the documentary made at the end of the camp. That was when I felt confident that I would become an actress. A cover picture appeared in a magazine when I was over two years old. After seeing that, the opportunity came to ‘Amma’ serial. Adityan sir, the director of ‘Santvana’, conducted the screen test and interview that day. I said the dialogue loudly like in the play. It was corrected by Sir.
∙ Did you find your partner through the serial?
So far he has acted in 23 serials and several TV shows. Unni Cherian sir, the program head of Kairali TV, said about the work ‘Ullathu Ansama’ four or five years ago. When I go, it is live recording. I know the director Albi Francis before. Unni called Sir when he felt tired after taking many takes of the scenes for live recording. To complain that the director is not giving time to read the script. Albi Chetan got angry with that. But gradually I got the character. The complaints disappeared. One day while having lunch, Chetan said, ‘The script doesn’t necessarily say it like that. Just do as Apsara understands.’ And so we became friends. One day, Albi Chetan called and told me to watch TV. State Television Awards are announced. That serial won four awards including Best Actress for Menku and Best Director for Chetan. Even after the shooting ended, the friendship continued. So one day, Albi Chetan asked, ‘Then let’s get married’. I was in shock and grief after my first marriage broke up. So afraid to think about marriage again. He replied, ‘No such thing now’.
∙Then how did things come to marriage?
When the matter of marriage was introduced at home, there was an explosion in both places, religion being the problem. Two years later, when another marriage proposal started for me, Chetan once again told the matter at home. By then the objections had loosened.
∙ Did some online news hurt you that day?
A photo taken with Chechi’s son Siddharth and Albi Chetan’s brother’s children was shared with the caption that it was the second marriage of both of them and the children from the first marriage. Another incident happened. While going to my brother’s house, when my mother put a bead on it, she tied her hair and wore it because there were flowers in it. Then he gave the bead in his hand and said that it is enough to put it later. It was also falsely propagated. While many online media supported us, such news spread by one or two people was disturbing. Non-response is intentional. When you reply, the reach of that channel will not increase again. Then, there was body shaming. There are people who advise that even though she is only 26 years old, she looks older because of her body type.
There are people who bear all the torture thinking that ‘a marriage is over, now they can bear it’. But I gave myself the courage to work hard and stand on my own feet, and I came out of my first marriage without committing suicide. Many people blamed that day. If he had committed suicide, the loss would be only to the family and not to the locals who would blame him. All girls should remember this.
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