JOIN USPortraying the emotions of a pregnant woman can be quite exhausting but actor Priyanka Upendra who has done just that in ‘Mummy’, slated to release on December 2, says she didn’t find the process a draining one.
Having given the role her best shot, the actor says she’s eager to see how the audience will react to her choice of character.
Over the years, Priyanka has branched out to do multiple things. She ventured into production with ‘Uppi 2’ and now silently nurses a desire to venture into direction. She has also made a conscious effort to choose her projects carefully.
In an interview with Nina C George, the actor shares her experience of working in ‘Mummy’.
What made you sign on the dotted line?
I have always enjoyed watching horror films and have always wanted to work in one. But I never came across the right script. ‘Mummy’ had all the trappings of a perfect horror film without any bloodshed. The eerie scenes have been shot well without appearing too dramatic.
How was it to play a
pregnant woman?
The director wanted to capture the essence of a pregnant woman and I hope I’ve managed to bring out what the director had in mind. The character I play had to be powerful but vulnerable at the same time. Being a mother of two, I could relate to it very well and some of the scenes came very naturally to me.
Reasons to watch
‘Mummy’...
The movie is different not only because of its unique characterisation but also because of its special sound and visual effects. Most of the film has been shot in an old house in Goa.
Almost 80 percent of it has been shot on sets that were specially created for the purpose. The Dolby Atmos surround sound and VFX work on the visuals have enhanced the quality of the film.
The fear factor has been captured very well through strong visual and sound effects.
Many say the film is similar to the Bollywood movie ‘Kahaani’?
There is no similarity between ‘Kahaani’ and this because my character is really pregnant unlike Vidya Balan’s who was faking her pregnancy. The emotions of a woman who is pregnant and heavy is evident in every scene.
What major career change do you see for yourself after the release of ‘Mummy’?
I don’t accept just about any role that comes my way but work on only those that offer something more for me to do than just be a decoration in the script. I want to go onto do things that are more serious in nature. Even the type of scripts that have been coming way have changed a great deal because people seem to know my preferences now.
On venturing into direction...
I am working on in but I would like to understand the job well before I take it up because I know that being a director is a full-time job. And I am also waiting for my children to grow up before I can step into direction.