18 Pages actress Anupama Parameswaran: Love stories will never go out of fashion, they’re a calming influence

Anupama Parameswaran has had a busy 2022. It all began with the release of the college drama Rowdy Boys, followed by her shoot schedules for 18 Pages, Butterfly, the Tamil film Siren, Mareechika in addition to promotions for Karthikeya 2 in the second half of the year. Now she has two films releasing in two weeks in December. While 18 Pages releases in theatres on December 23, Butterfly arrives directly on Disney+ Hotstar. In an interaction with the media recently, she spoke about her upcoming releases.

She was thrilled in particular with the enormity of Karthikeya 2’s success this year. “While we knew that the film would do well in theatres, we didn’t expect it go this big. The media went all out to promote our film and took it to various corners of the country. I was busy with shoots and couldn’t enjoy the success of Karthikeya 2 as much as Nikhil. In fact, I met Nikhil for 18 Pages much before the shoot of Karthikeya 2. Both films are completely different from one another.”

The actress reiterates that 18 Pages is a love story and belongs to a different world sans any adventure or larger-than-life elements. True to the film’s caption, ‘love is crazy’, it is all about romance. 18 Pages and Karthikeya 2 were shot almost simultaneously. She finished dubbing for the film only a couple of days ago and says the audiences will get to explore Nandini’s character through her voice, unlike the trailer (for which Anupama couldn’t dub).

Nandini from 18 Pages is reportedly one of Anupama’s most favourite characters in her career. “I just watched the film recently and I’m proud of what we’ve managed. Nandini isn’t only disconnected from the digital world but is also pure and good-hearted. Nandini will make you think and introspect. It certainly impacted me as a person too,” she states. Anupama had to give many takes for her scenes in the film, given director Palnati Surya Pratap’s attention to detail.

Parts of Nandini’s looks were designed by Anupama herself - the nose ring and the earring (ones that she used in her childhood) in particular. The director sought an atypical look for her and Anupama believes the world be a different place if more women like Nandini existed. Love stories will never run out of fashion and will be a calming influence in the restless lives we lead, the actress averred. For the uninitiated, 18 Pages revolves around a diary written by Nandini.

She refuses to talk about walking out of DJ Tillu’s sequel Tillu Square and says her only priority is to promote 18 Pages. Butterfly, Mareechika, Siren and Ravi Teja starrer Eagle, helmed by Karthik Gattamneni, are among her future releases.