I Want To Act In A Kill Bill-like Action Film: Hansika Motwani

Actress Hansika Motwani made her digital debut with MY3, directed by M Rajesh, 20 years after she made her acting debut in Hawa. “I was very young at that time. I was just very happy to work with some great people and felt very excited for the opportunity,” says Hansika, recalling her debut in 2003, over the phone a week after the premiere of MY3. “I think OTT is a great opportunity to bring more talent and great content to the audience as it makes it easier for people to pick and view good titles,” she says, adding that her her script selection process remains the same despite the platform. “My ultimate goal is to entertain the audience. That will remain the same."

In this interview, Hansika discusses her journey, her latest Disney+ Hotstar release, and her take on the OTT revolution.

Excerpts from the Interview:

Your latest, MY3, is an official adaptation of I'm not a Robot. Have you seen the original version?

I had just seen one episode of I'm Not A Robot before accepting the script of MY3. I didn't want the original to influence my performance. Instead, I wanted to play two characters Mythri and the humanoid MY3 in my own style. So I chose not to finish watching the original series. I just wanted to keep it as organic and authentic as possible.

MY3 is your first streaming project. What excited you the most about the project?

I was excited about the whole script, the prospect of playing a dual role, and the opportunity to work with Rajesh sir again. Regardless of whether a film is an OTT or theatre release, the hard work remains the same. It's like filming three movies back-to-back because of the long duration; that's the only difference.

MY3 marks your second collaboration with director M Rajesh after Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012), one of the biggest hits of your career. How was the experience of working with him again?

I was very comfortable and happy knowing that Rajesh sir was directing me again. It was wonderful working with him. He elevated the character a lot by giving me the scope to perform. Thanks to his direction, I was able to play the character confidently.

We are seeing actors experiment without sticking to a particular style of films and roles of late. At this point in your career, who is your inspiration on this front?

Well, I didn’t have someone to idolise throughout my career. I just want to be myself and create my own path in the art. I believe that my journey is solely my journey. Over the past 20 years, I've just picked scripts that challenged me every time.

Are there any specific roles or genres you haven't explored yet but eager to explore in the future?

I'd love to explore action movies. I really enjoy watching action movies. I love Kill Bill very much, I want to do that type of film in my career. 

When you're not actively working on a project, how do you stay creatively inspired?

I do something related to my industry. I read and listen to new scripts. In all these years, I haven't had the time for anything apart from cinema. So, I just plan things related to upcoming projects.

What's coming up next?

There is a Telugu film titled My Name is Shruthi and two Tamil films named, Gandhari and Man. There are a lot more exciting films that are yet to be announced. Some of them are ready for release and some are in the production stage.

Regardless of success and failure, how do you manage to draw the line between your work and personal life?

When I'm packed off from the set, I am back to being Hansika, not the character I'm playing in a film. I don't take my characters enter my home and personal life; that has always been my secret in life. I try to balance it out every day. There are great people around, who keep me grounded everytime. I don't take success or failure personally either. My motto has always been the same: if I succeed, I say thank you with my folded hands, and maintain gratitude. If I face failures, I'll still be with my folded hands, and ensure that I'll work hard to do better next time. This thought process remains unchanged.