Finally, There Is A Space For Stories That capture Life After 40: Actor-Filmmaker Revathy

Senior actor and renowned filmmaker Revathy has won several accolades in her long career including the National Film Awards in three different categories, and six Filmfare Awards South. She has also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Bhoothakaalam (2022). After recently giving a slice-of-life drama film ‘Salaam Venky’ starring Kajol in the lead role, she is also seen sharing screen space with the late Vikram Gokhale in Panorama Music’s ‘Jagjeevan Ki Patni Ka Teesra Pyar’.

This was the last film of Vikram Gokhle before his demise. In this interview with Outlook, Revathy talks about working with the late actor, his priorities as a director, and why it’s great to see Hindi cinema capturing life after the 40s in the storyline

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. Would you like to start this conversation by talking about your fondest memories of shooting with Vikram Gokhale sir?

Vikram ji was a very humble man  and easy to work with and a very generous actor because  he just does think of himself but he wants to see the entire scene and that everybody works well into it so it was a collaborative effort between him and me so it was fun working with him,

Q. How enriching was your experience shooting with him and what was the biggest takeaway while working with him?

Vikram ji will be missed but he has done some fabulous work and his memories are there through his films and all the memories he has given to his audiences in theatre and otherwise. We have never been stars, we have not sat alone in our own space or anything like I need my space kind of attitude. It's always been that we are working as a family and we work together and we work as a team and that is something I will also remember that he also felt so much like that .

Q.'Jagjivan Ki Patni...' beautifully captures love and romanticism. What do you have to say about this growing fondness of the entertainment industry to finally give due focus to an age group that was looking for attention?

I am really happy to see the change that has happened, also because now suddenly there is space for all kinds of films. It used to be there in the 70s and 80s but then it disappeared. It all became about the young couple and the young love so it's good and I am very happy, I am seeing it happen now. And yes, there are so many stories and actual stories begin to happen after you are 40, before that it's very simple. It's all about love, it's all about career, it's about finding your partner but the real story happens after you are 40, and finally, we have found a space to tell them all.

Q. 'Salaam Venky' has got a great response on the digital stream compared to cinemas. Does that bring a smile to your face?

'Salaam Venky' was a story very close to my heart and I wanted to make it. The team that was put together for 'Salaam Venky', thanks to all of them that we were able to make the film the way it was made so I enjoyed making it. We made it with our hearts and definitely it brings me smiles when people respond and tell me there are emails and messages and I feel happy about it

Q. As an actor and as a director, you always chose subjects that dealt with human emotions, pain, and suffering, and dilemmas. Why so?

I enjoy doing human relations and realistic characters both as an actor and a director so this is the genre I enjoy making and that’s why I do it. This is something I really like to work on and with regards to what's next – I am working on a script and I hope to start the shooting before the end of this year,