‘I’m waiting like everyone else’ — Asha Sharath on Georgekutty’s fate in Drishyam 3 | INTERVIEW

When she stood tall and looked straight ahead asking, “Who is supposed to give us justice and freedom?”, countless hopes for justice and freedom seemed to dance in that moment. On that stage, Asha Sharath performed as the embodiment of women’s dreams. Even while achieving remarkable success as an actress, she continues to hold on tightly to her first love—dance. As Malayalam audiences eagerly await the film Drishyam 3, she shares new updates about her journey in both acting and dance.

Joy of ‘Aashakal Aayiram’

“I am extremely happy that Malayalam audiences embraced the film Aashakal Aayiram. At a time when thrillers dominated Malayalam cinema, this film proved that family audiences are returning to theatres in search of feel-good movies. It beautifully blends emotional moments with humour. I play a wife and mother caught between the amusing conflicts of a father and son, unable to take sides. I liked the character when I first heard about it, and I enjoyed it even more while performing it. Roles like this always bring me joy and hope in my career.”

‘Makale’ — A dance from a mother’s heart

“Despite my busy film schedule, I always hold on to dance, which is my life. My solo performance titled Makale has been receiving great appreciation. When I performed it in Delhi, actor Suresh Gopi came to watch. After seeing it, he spoke to me very emotionally.

The performance tells the story of a girl who was raped and murdered in Kolkata, portrayed through the emotional journey of her mother. In a society where incidents like those of Abhaya and Nirbhaya still happen, the depth of a mother’s grief is immense. Being a mother myself, I created Makale by deeply internalising that pain.”

‘Aparajitha’ — Stories of unheard women

“If Makale is a 30-minute performance, Aparajitha runs for about one and a half hours. I portray four women in it. No matter how times change, the neglect, sorrow, and pain women face remain the same.

The first character is Damayanthi from mythology, abandoned in the forest by Nalan despite her longing for his love. The performance explores her emotional turmoil.

The second character is Deivayanai, wife of Murugan, whose silent pain often goes unnoticed when Murugan falls in love with Valli.

Another character is Nangeli, who sacrificed her life by cutting off her breast in protest against unjust taxation—raising the question of whether a woman must give up her life to attain justice.

The fourth character brings the narrative to the present—Uthra, the young woman from Kerala who was murdered by her husband using a snake. Through her, I portray modern-day suffering.”

Waiting for Drishyam 3

“Like everyone else, I am eagerly waiting for Drishyam 3. Director Jeethu Joseph has said that it won’t be like Drishyam 1 or Drishyam 2, and Drishyam 3 will be different as well. I am also among those waiting to see what happens to Georgekutty and his family.

My character Geetha Prabhakar will have aged by 5 or 6 years since the story continues after a gap. Just like me, Georgekutty, Rani, and the children have all grown older. Over the long span of three films, we all undergo changes—so acting in Drishyam feels like living through time itself.”

Life beyond cinema

“I have been living in Dubai running a dance school for many years now, and I visit Kerala often. However, this time I haven’t been able to return due to tensions in West Asia. I’m concerned about my school, students, and staff there, but travel isn’t possible right now.

On a happier note, my children have returned to India. My daughter Uthara, after completing her studies in England, is now pursuing a PhD in Bharatanatyam. My other daughter Keerthana, who was in Canada for seven years, has returned and is now working in Bengaluru. As a mother, having them back is a great joy. As our children grow and settle in life, Sharath and I are truly happy.”