Films are more important to me: Mamta Mohandas

Mamta Mohandas has been coming to Bangalore often and BT caught up with the actress when she was in the city over the weekend.

But contrary to the reports of her doing a Kannada film after four years, her trips have been more personal in nature. "I am not doing an Upendra film and have not replaced Bhavana. But that's not true. I'm loaded with Kannada offers, but I've not found a project that has interested me. Moreover, I don't think that I need to do a Kannada film to graduate in films," says the actress, who may soon foray into Bollywood.

"I've got offers from Feroze Nadiadwala productions and another big production house as well. Both are still in the narration stage. I want to be part of the right project. There are auditions left and only after that I will know," says the actress, who's currently enjoying a month off from work, given the delay with a Malayalam project she's been signed up. The project in question, meanwhile, is superstar Mammootty's first home production Mathilukalkappuram. "Again, contrary to reports, I have not replaced Nayanthara. She was never approached. The makers did want Vidya Balan, but that didn't work out. I take on the role of Narayani, who was just a voice in the original, Mathilukal. We were to start shooting this month, but Mammootty is waiting for cameraman Ravichandran and sound engineer Resul Pookutty's dates. That will happen in April," she says.

Now that she's working in the extension of a national award-winning film, has she seen the original? "Unfortunately no. I have not seen the film and don't have access to a print because Doordarshan holds the rights to the film. I'd love to see it, but right now, I will have to make do with the narrations that I am getting about Mathilukal," she adds.

The actress, whose career graph has been rising steadily, has a jam-packed schedule in the coming months. "In May I may do an offbeat Telugu film, Maidanam, which has a heroine-oriented script. Then there's a Malayalam project by director Joshi. I'll also be doing Singaravelan opposite Prithviraj, an as-yet-untitled film with Dileep and a film opposite Indrajith." She's also just had the dubbed version of her hit Malayalam film Anwar, release in Tamil. How come she isn't doing more Kollywood film? "I did have exciting offers last year, but could not do them due to health issues. Interesting stuff may come my way now. But it will have to be worthy of me. I've to make sure I get a bang-on film to come back to Tamil," she asserts.

And with so many films happening, music is definitely not top priority for Mamta, who sings playback occasionally. "I have a versatile way of singing, which music directors are discovering. I love to sing, but my films are more important to me. At this stage, I need to set my film career on a roller coaster. Singing is secondary and can take a backseat," she says.