Kochi: Acclaimed actress Parvathy Thiruvothu recently shared insights into her experiences working alongside Malayalam cinema’s legendary icons, Mammootty and Mohanlal. Speaking in an interview with Pinkvilla, Parvathy expressed her profound admiration for Mohanlal’s mental presence and recalled how Mammootty ensures everyone is treated as an equal on a film set.

‘Mohanlal’s presence of mind’

Reflecting on her early career, Parvathy recalled working with Mohanlal in the Sibi Malayil directorial Flash. “I worked with Mohanlal a long time ago. I was 19; I am now 38. It’s been almost 20 years. Going back to who I was, he kept his presence of mind as an actor, and I was amazed by that. Also, Jagathy Sreekumar was there, and I had only one scene.”

She further added, “I didn’t even know as an actress what I wanted to be at that time, and what this craft is. I was a child in a lot of ways, and I understood that was the kind of quality as an actor I wanted eventually. I am proud to say that now, after 20 years, I am there where I can switch in and out, have those intuitions, and take care of my co-actors.” 

‘Mammootty ensures equality before the camera’

Having shared the screen with Mammootty in the film Puzhu, Parvathy spoke about his ability to bridge the gap between a superstar and a co-actor. She admitted that while a set naturally becomes silent and serious when such legends arrive, they make a conscious effort to make others feel comfortable.

Parvathy emphasised that Mammootty ensures that regardless of whether someone is a newcomer or a veteran, everyone is an equal once the camera starts rolling.
“With Mammootty also, it was the same experience. I mean, obviously, when these people walk on to a set and there is a gravitas. Everyone goes silent and all. However, when they are in front of you, you have to forget they are these legends. Otherwise, how will we act together, like what if I have to act like slapping them if I am looking at them in awe. I love it when these so-called legends and superstars allow nothing to come in the way of their craft or at the job in hand. I could be a newcomer and in front of the camera, we are equals,” she said.

Defining legends

Parvathy noted, “I am so obsessed with taking care of others on sets because I have seen ‘these legends’ are made legends because of how they are also better human on set. It has nothing to do with box office because it won’t matter if they are a horrible person. I think this is why people speak about certain actors as legends, because they walk on set and make it a better place.”