Actor Meenakshi Jayan says she typically dreamt about successful a world award for performing — the joy when her identify is introduced, embracing the folks sitting subsequent to her, and slowly strolling up the steps. Instantly, the dream turns right into a nightmare — the stage comes crashing down, stairs break, and the actor falls. “My thoughts would begin enjoying tips. I used to be by no means in a position to place myself on an enormous stage. It as soon as felt like I by no means belonged there,” says the actor and winner of one of the best actress award within the Asia New Expertise class on the Shanghai Worldwide Movie Pageant for her efficiency in Victoria.
“However now, I can place myself on massive levels,” says Meenakshi over WhatsApp from Shanghai. The actor performed the titular position in Victoria, directed by Sivaranjini J essaying the inner struggles of a younger beautician who plans to elope together with her Hindu boyfriend after her Catholic household finds out in regards to the relationship, whereas she is forcibly entrusted to deal with a rooster.
Meenakshi Jayan and the rooster in Victoria
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The actor embodies the struggles confronted by younger ladies towards the backdrop of a ladies’s solely magnificence parlour, dedicating her award to “ladies who have been advised they have been an excessive amount of.” “I’m going to be an excessive amount of right this moment,” she declared throughout her acceptance speech.
Meenakshi’s entry into Victoria could be described as predestined. After responding to the casting name, she obtained a name from one of many affiliate administrators who advised her that they have been in search of a woman who speaks the Angamaly dialect. Hailing from Tripunithura, within the different facet of Kochi, Meenakshi took this as a problem and travelled to Angamaly to speak to a couple folks there. She spoke to butchers, cellular store house owners and textile saleswomen and recorded these conversations for reference.
“As I used to be about to return to Tripunithura on a KSRTC bus, I known as the affiliate director to see whether or not she could connect me with someone who speaks the dialect and he immediately mentioned the director Sivaranjini. She advised me Siva was on the Angamaly KSRTC bus stand the place I used to be ready to board my bus. This was our first assembly. I used to be sweaty from all of the roaming I did that day and anxious whether or not that affected my possibilities. Nonetheless, after the shoot, Siva advised me she preferred me in that look. She seen how my telephone was additionally damaged like Victoria’s, a element talked about within the screenplay,” says Meenakshi, affectionately known as Meenu.
Sivaranjini(director of Victoria), Anand Ravi (DOP) and Meenakshi Jayan
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Meenakshi factors out one other coincidence concerning her casting. “On the day of my audition, I met this chechi whereas I used to be ready for the bus. She requested me the place to discover a bus to Angamaly within the typical Angamaly dialect. Since we have been headed in the identical route, I made a decision to remain near her and converse to her till the audition. Throughout our dialog, she advised me that she runs a magnificence parlour known as Meenu’s.
Making ready for the position
The actor labored in a magnificence parlour for a month to organize for the position. “Beauticians at parlour, Neethu chechi and Victoria (one other workers on the magnificence parlour) taught me pedicure, henna therapy, threading, therapeutic massage and extra. Neethu chechi had me take notes. It was enjoyable.”
Sivaranjini obtained the thought of a rooster within the magnificence parlour when she encountered the identical at a parlour the place the rooster was an providing to a church. “The rooster, Parthan, was a enjoyable member. We didn’t have to speak something to him. We took a number of pictures of him simply reacting to one thing and added them within the closing edit. He was very cooperative,” says Meenakshi.
A nonetheless from Victoria
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After Victoria
Victoria premiered on the twenty ninth Worldwide Movie Pageant of Kerala in 2024, the place it won the FIPRESCI award for the best Malayalam film by a debut director. Meenakshi was awarded one of the best efficiency on the Unbiased and Experimental Movie Pageant of Kerala in 2025. The movie was additionally screened on the Cinema Home in Mumbai and the Habitat Movie Pageant in Delhi.
“The primary time I boarded a flight was for Victoria’s screening in Mumbai. My first worldwide journey was for this pageant. I utilized for a passport as a result of Siva advised me to. I realised how massive the world is after Victoria,” Meenakshi says, recalling an occasion within the film the place the character says that she has not been on a aircraft. “Now Siva and our DOP Anand Ravi have a look at me when that scene comes.”
Meenakshi Jayan on the screening of Victoria on the Cinema Home in Mumbai
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For the ladies
“Lots of people would possibly discover Victoria relatable. It seems to be at confusion and anxieties inside folks from a singular perspective. It is usually from the attitude of some of the fantastic ladies I’ve met,” says the actor, hoping to have a industrial launch for Victoria. Meenakshi can be awaiting the OTT launch of an internet collection directed by PR Arun wherein she performs a unusual character.
“I’ll ceaselessly wait for one more character like Victoria. All actors would crave to be a part of such character-driven movies; this contains feminine actors too. How lengthy are you able to act as somebody’s girlfriend, spouse, or mom? We wish well-written feminine characters with depth,” says Meenakshi. “And the stair shouldn’t break nor the stage come crashing down.”
Revealed – June 24, 2025 05:14 pm IST
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