‘Nayanthara flatly refused to do that scene; that’s the kind of actor she is’: Yogi Babu

Tamil actor Yogi Babu has opened up about his experience working with Nayanthara on the 2018 black comedy ‘Kolamaavu Kokila,’ revealing a particular moment during the shoot that, he says, exemplifies her professionalism and sensitivity.

In an interview with Cinema Vikatan, Yogi Babu praised Nayanthara’s conduct on set, especially during a physically awkward scene. “She is indeed a Lady Superstar. Acting alongside a comedy actor like me is itself a big deal. There’s a scene where a car hits a speed breaker, and her foot had to land on my face. Nayanthara flatly refused to do that scene,” he said.

He added, “Both Nelson (the director) and I felt it would be a good scene. Even senior actress Saranya Ma’am said it wasn’t necessary. The scene went through seven or eight takes, but not even once did she place her foot down. She applied Vaseline and held her leg in the air throughout to avoid even a trace of dirt touching my face. That’s the kind of thoughtful actor Nayanthara is.”

The film, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, was released at the height of Nayanthara’s stardom and became one of the most successful titles in her career. The film was later remade in Hindi as ‘Good Luck Jerry’ (2022), starring Janhvi Kapoor, but failed to replicate the success of the original.

Though discussions about Nayanthara’s current status in the industry have surfaced, especially with her absence from recent Tamil superstar-led films, her peers continue to speak highly of her.

Criticism has emerged mostly from outside the industry, particularly from a section of Tamil film journalists. In response to the ongoing commentary, Nayanthara recently stated that she no longer wishes to be called the “Lady Superstar,” a title that had once been synonymous with her brand.

On her work front, she has completed shooting for the Malayalam film ‘Dear Students’ alongside Nivin Pauly, marking their first collaboration since ‘Love Action Drama.’ The second instalment of ‘Mookuthi Amman’ is under production in Tamil, and she is also working on a Telugu project opposite megastar Chiranjeevi.

Her most recent release, ‘Test,’ featuring Siddharth, R Madhavan, and Meera Jasmine, received a mixed critical response.