Paranthu Po actor Grace Antony: The heroine tag would weigh me down | EXCLUSIVE

Malayalam actor Grace Antony has been in the business ever since 2016, and much like her name gracefully shuttling between supporting and lead roles. But with her next release, which is also her Tamil debut, Paranthu Po, Grace will be seen in director Ram’s film as a prominent character who will shuttle between the foreground and background.

“In Malayalam, I would consider big that I have done important main roles, as well as some character roles. While doing both, what I understood is that even if you come for only one shot, how much you give input to the story and what impact the audience would have, is all that determines about your role and performance,” she says.

Also read: Paranthu Po actor Aju Varghese: Length of my characters don’t matter to me | Exclusive

Why Grace Antony doesn't want to be called heroine 

Continuing this, Grace says that a tag like ‘heroine’ would weigh her down, as she continues to say that it is required for an actor to be like a water and take the shape of the role they are given to perform. She also adds about how appearance is important for an actor, but supports her statement by saying, “Of course and definitely our physique is important, and if you are healthy, that is okay. But beauty standards are not what I am talking about. In Malayalam, when we check in for roles, directors usually look out for actors based on the characters, and they don’t cast a heroine.”

Grace mentions that it was the same process for Ram’s Paranthu Po, and her only thought was what she could offer to the film, that she hasn’t done in Malayalam. “I have barely used make-up in Malayalam, and as actors we should be ready to that. I have also come from drama background, and you should give respect to even props, and sets. A glass can be an important prop in the scene, and is as much as a co-star as any other actor.”

Also read: Paranthu Po first review out: Sean Roldan calls director Ram’s film ‘a gift to Tamil cinema’

Grace talks about differences in playing a wife 

In Paranthu Po, Grace has played the wife of Shiva. Previously, the actor, who has co-starred with a range of actors, from Mammootty, to Fahadh Faasil and Nivin Pauly, talks about how she brings difference in characters even as she may play a wife in all these films. “Some directors give us freedom. Coming to Kumbalangi Nights, director Madhu C. Narayanan sets will have writer Syam Pushkaran sir who will give us dialogues on the spot, much like hit pancakes. They will give us the content, and ask us to improvise too. It is a responsibility on us to not misuse the freedom, and use the space right without overdoing. Secondly, it is also surprise. Even with Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham, Nivin and we improvise on the spot”

She goes on to add about how on the sets of Rorschach, with Mammootty it would be different. “We get to know the energy of the sets in a couple of days, and we get to know how he will work. But on some days, he would be by himself, while sometimes he would sit down us and talk elaborately.”

Coming to Paranthu Po, Grace says that she makes sure she knows what has been shot before or after my scene. “Ram sir narrated the whole script, and on every day of shoot, he would tell me what we are taking. It is also my way of working that I know what has been shot before and after my scene, so that I understand it better,” Grace explains about how it helps her to get working better.

As someone who has tried her hand in comedy, Grace talks about how it is important reactions are important and how a co-star gives and takes, can make or break a comical timing.