Anupama Parameswaran, known for her cheerful demeanour and versatility across South Indian cinema, has admitted she was deeply affected by the disappointing box office performance of her recent Telugu film ‘Paradha’.

Speaking at a media interaction following the release of her latest Tamil film ‘Bison Kaalamaadan’, the actor shared how much Paradha meant to her — and how its failure left her "really sad”.

“I am very disappointed with Paradha's response, really sad as well. That's the truth and I accept it,” Anupama said, candidly addressing the film’s outcome.

Despite pouring herself into the role of a fiery young woman battling patriarchal oppression, the film — which earned critical praise — failed to translate that into ticket sales.

Anupama added that she doesn't sign films purely for commercial success.

“For each film we do, we hope that it turns out fine and everybody in the audience likes it, even if it doesn’t become a box office hit. That’s what I’ve been trying — to explore different characters.”
 

She noted that her role in ‘Kishkindhapuri’ is entirely different from her part in ‘Bison Kaalamaadan’, underlining her commitment to variety and growth as an actor.

“When a film becomes a success, it motivates me to make better films and choose scripts wisely,” she said.

Paradha: A story that deserved more?

Released in August 2025 and directed by Praveen Kandregula, ‘Paradha’ revolves around a woman from a deeply patriarchal village forced to undergo a traditional trial to prove her innocence — a journey that triggers a personal awakening.

The cast included Rag Mayur, Darshana Rajendran and Sangitha Krish with Rajendra Prasad appearing in a special role. Though also dubbed and released in Malayalam, ‘Paradha’ struggled at the box office, grossing only around ₹1.2 crore globally against a reported budget of ₹15 crore (as per Sacnilk).