Entertainment Desk
07 September 2025, 02:45 PM IST
That same spirit of risk-taking, Kalyani said, is what drew her to Lokah in the first place
Kalyani Priyadarshan, Kalki director Nag Ashwin (Photo: Instagram)
While talking about her experience on Lokah: Chapter One: Chandra, which has established her as Malayalam cinema’s first female superhero, actor Kalyani Priyadarshan also reflected on the liberating power of big, imaginative cinema, drawing parallels to the scale of films like Kalki 2898 AD.
In a conversation with film critic Sudhir Srinivasan, Kalyani praised director Nag Ashwin’s vision. “Also, Nagi is one of the creatively cool people we have in the industry,” she said with a grin. “Nagi, if you are watching this, please can I also be a part of the film? Thank you.”
It was Sudhir who noted how films like Kalki can be liberating in their ambition: “Films like this tell you — you are only limited by your imagination. For example, the film Kalki, liberates you to make whatever you want.”
That same spirit of risk-taking, Kalyani said, is what drew her to Lokah in the first place. “I loved the script. To be very honest, the reason I got into cinema was to make cool films. Dulquer and I have always had that same vibe. I don’t have the fear of the experiment failing. Surely, it may fail, but at least we tried — that’s how my mind works.”
She recalled how Dulquer Salmaan, the film’s producer and her co-star, encouraged her to focus on the creative achievement rather than the box office outcome. “The day before the film release, Dulquer called me and said, ‘Kalzone, don’t even look at the numbers. Just know, I am really happy as a producer. This is why we got into cinema. Even if it’s a small audience, the film will find its audience.’”
With Lokah earning praise for its world-building and bold, genre-bending execution, Kalyani’s playful request to Nag Ashwin feels like more than just a fan moment — it’s a natural extension of her creative journey, one defined by courage, experimentation, and a deep love for storytelling without boundaries.
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