Malavika Mohanan reflects on why she chose Yudhra as her first Bollywood film: 'Everything called out to me in all the right ways' Exclusive

Malavika Mohanan reflects on why she chose Yudhra

Malavika Mohanan, a talented actress known for her remarkable work in the Tamil and Malayalam film industries, has officially made her Bollywood debut with the action-packed movie Yudhra, which hit theaters on September 20. In an exclusive conversation with Money Control ahead of the movie's release, Malavika opened up about her journey into Bollywood, her approach to choosing roles, and why she was drawn to Yudhra.

Although Malavika has been primarily focusing on Tamil cinema in recent years, she is also currently working on a Telugu project. Reflecting on her selective approach to films, she explained, “I’ve had a lot of films come my way in the past, but I’ve never believed in signing films back-to-back just for announcements or to keep the ball rolling. It’s always been about connecting with the character or connecting with the script.” This philosophy guided her to wait for the perfect Bollywood opportunity, and Yudhra felt like the right fit.

When asked what attracted her to Yudhra, Malavika credited the film’s production house, Excel Entertainment. “I love the makers to start with—Excel has made such iconic films as Dil Chahta Hai, Don, to Lakshya, and then Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. I wanted to work with them; I liked their wavelength. I resonate with it. They've always made really good films, which have also been commercially well received. So, that was, like, a big bait for me. And it was with Sidhanth, who was, like, fresh off, Gully Boy, like, this upcoming talent. So, everything, like it called out to me in all the right ways. So it seemed like it told me like a good project."

While excited about her Bollywood debut, Malavika admitted feeling a mix of emotions. “I am nervous and excited in several ways. There are mixed emotions. We waited a long time; we have been working on this project for a while. It’s finally coming out. It’s my first out-and-out Bollywood film. It’s so many layers of emotions. Feeling a lot of things.”

Malavika is not entirely new to big-budget films, having recently starred opposite Tamil superstar Chiyaan Vikram in Thangalaan. Comparing her roles in Thangalaan and Yudhra, she noted the stark differences in the preparation and execution. “What excited me was that both the worlds are different. In Thangalaan, I played a tribal goddess. In Yudhra, I play a city girl. It’s like Mars and Venus.” For Thangalaan, she underwent intense physical preparation, learning gymnastics and stick fighting, while Yudhra required her to polish her Hindi, as her Mumbai slang needed refining.

Despite working in different regional industries, Malavika doesn’t see significant differences between them. “Every industry has its own spoken and unspoken rules, but there’s no one big difference I can particularly point out.”

She also spoke fondly of working with Siddhant Chaturvedi in Yudhra, mentioning how he and the other men in her life cheered her on during action sequences. “All the men in my life, including my brother, my close friends who are guys, Siddhant—they’re all excited that a girl is doing so many action sequences. It’s nice to see boys cheering for girls.”

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Looking to the future, Malavika expressed her desire to explore different genres, particularly romantic films. “I love doing action, but it can get a little too technical. What really interests me is drama, be it romantic or any other kind. I’ve really been wanting to do an out-and-out romantic film.”

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As Malavika embarks on this new chapter in her career, her thoughtful approach to selecting roles and her passion for diversity in her performances ensure that she will continue to captivate audiences across multiple industries.