'There were intimate scenes; Dulquer and I were not comfortable': Nithya Menen

National Award-winning actor Nithya Menen is a household name in the South Indian film industry. She has won the hearts of moviegoers with her endearing performances in movies such as Ustad Hotel, Thiruchitrambalam, and her latest release, Kaadhalika Neramillai, alongside Ravi Mohan.

Reflecting on her film journey and the challenges involved, Nithya discussed her experiences on Galatta Plus where she also talked about Mani Ratnam’s coming-of-age romantic film O Kadhal Kanmani. A runaway hit upon its release in 2015, the movie featured her opposite pan-Indian actor Dulquer Salmaan.

When asked if she was skeptical about taking on the bold role, which was quite different from the conventional heroines in Tamil cinema at the time, Nithya was quick to respond, saying she "never had such thoughts." She added, "In fact, I used to think Tara had elements of me and often wondered if Mani sir spied on me before offering me the role!"

However, during the interview, the actor did open up about a concern she had while working on the film. "I had my reservations. There were love-making scenes, and Dulquer and I were not comfortable. We did not want to go explicit, and we let our director know. He was understanding and made sure those scenes were shot in a way that made us comfortable."

This candid conversation highlights the challenges actors face in their profession and the complexities involved in filmmaking.

Meanwhile, Nithya has several exciting projects lined up, including Idly Kadai with Dhanush, following the massive success of their 2022 film Thiruchitrambalam. On the other hand, Dulquer Salmaan is fresh off the success of Lucky Baskhar, and Mani Ratnam is currently working on the Kamal Haasan-starrer Thug Life!