Choosing it right (Article on Times of Oman )

Popular south Indian actress Mamta Mohandas says Bollywood films are an absolute “no-no” for her. The Kerala state award winner of 2011 said no to a project by Bollywood director Kunal Kohli recently.

The actress has acted with all the leading south Indian filmmakers and actors.

“Bollywood is something I would put away for now because it is an ocean and beside am doing the best films in the South Indian film industry especially Malayalam from which I am reaping the best out of,” she said speaking to Times of Oman.

She was in Oman as chief guest for the sixth anniversary celebration of Sky Jewellery. “Bollywood would require me to start my career from scratch. I don’t want to invest three or four more years in acting. Probably by next year I may slowly start applying breaks,” she said.

The actress is undergoing treatment for cancer. “I need to conserve my energy. That is why I am choosing what is right, good and healthy for me,” she said.

The actress however doesn’t mind trying a hand at parallel cinema. “If there is something interesting I would certainly do it. I worked with Shyam Benegal’s associates recently and they were keen on me entering Bengali films,” she said. She also informed that she has many Malayalam films lined up.

“I will be acting in Mammooty’s first production Mathilukalil Apurath, director Jayaraj’s Nayika, a mega project Leela by Ranjith, Soumyam Deeptham by T. A. Razaq. These are projects that are immediately in the pipeline,” said the actress who has done hits films with actors like Mammootty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, Dileep and Prithviraj.

She has acted in the top stars of the Telugu,Tamil and Kannada film industry. A trained Carnatic and Hindustani vocalist, Mamta has lent her voice to many film songs too.

“I would continue with my experiments in singing,” she says. Elated with her 2011’s Kerala State Award, she says, “it brought me immense happiness. I have previously got commercial awards, but the state award was very special.”

Bahrain-born Malayalee was also awed by the beauty of Oman.
“This is my first visit and I can see what a beautiful place this is,” she said.

Source : Times of Oman