Noted actress in the South film industry, Laxmi Manchu, speaks with Subhash K Jha on the challenges of being an actress amid the sexism in the film industry, her career so far and her newest film, Daksha.
Is it becoming increasingly imperative for female actors in Indian cinema to create their own opportunities, as most scripts written in this country favour the male protagonist?
It is very true that an artist in India, an actress in India, finds it tough to find challenging opportunities. As a matter of fact,it’s true anywhere in the world. Like even, let me give you an example of Reese Witherspoon. She had to turn around, look at where her life was going, she completely pivoted. Started a book club. Started owning rights to female-centric stories. And start producing them. Because the men are not going to see the opportunities that you see for yourself. So, I think a part of me does feel that. And that’s what gave me the zeal to pursue the Daksha and finish it and release it.
Are you appalled by the scripts they offer you?
I mean, it’s so difficult. I want to pull my teeth sometimes when they come and tell me scripts. I’m like, bros, you did tell ten people before you came to me saying you’re going to meet me. Didn’t any of those ten people tell you how bad it was? And then you just show up here. And I have to be the one telling you what is not working in this script. But it’s happened.
You have been part of Tamil and Telugu cinema for over fifteen years, do you find patriarchal policies have changed over the years?
You know, I think the reason I left India and went to America was for these male attitudes and patriarchal policies that we have innately made it our law or our destiny without even questioning if this is right or wrong. And sometimes you can’t be the only one beating your head to the wall. It’s one life. You need to go find where you are heard and seen and at least have a sense of self. More power to these male actors who are celebrated at 60 and strong. But we at 30, are to retire and, you know, play the mother roles to the same actors. Let me give you an example close to my own home. The first heroine who acted with my dad (Mohan Babu) played his mother a few years later. So there you have it.
Having witnessed the toxicity in the Telugu industry firsthand, what is your advice to newcomers in the film industry?
Oh, I don’t know if it’s just in the industry. I see this misogyny and entitlement of these men everywhere in the world. Some way or the other. And it is a constant presence. Earlier I would get upset, angry and, you know, why don’t you know even this? But now I just feel like none of you know anything. And it’s my duty to teach you with a smile on my face, which is the hard part. But I’m not going to not stop talking about it. But I need to find different ways to reach into the heads of these men and women who think this is the way it should be. To newcomers, my advice is, hold your ground. Know your boundaries. Because when you have a sense of self, you will get what you want. Otherwise, you will be pushed around. You will be told things that you don’t want to hear to be the truth. So you can’t let other people get into your head and your voice and your noise. You need to know who you are and know your truth, really. The sense of self. That will really get you far.
How would you describe your journey so far?
You know, the other day somebody was telling me, You used to be like a little cat who’s turned into a tigress. Growing up, I was naive, fearful, scared, conditioned. And it took a lot of breaking, unlearning, tossing around and being put in a washing machine of sorts to really arrive to the sense of who I am without being a mother, wife, actor, you know, daughter. Who am I as a being? What am I made of? And because of that, I’m able to speak with such dignity and clarity and sense of who I am and how I want to show up for the world.
Your new film Daksha seem to signal a new phase in your life and career?
Daksha is a dream come true with my dad acting in it. And I think I’ve opened the doors for so many more women to dream beyond their imagination. And this is what that represents for me. And I’m so, so, so happy that it opened well. And people have received it so beautifully because, again, I was scared. Oh, my God, father-daughter, high expectations!
What was your incentive for doing Daksha?
My incentive was just to act in Daksha because dad was going to produce it. And we were going to co-produce it. But, you know, as things went along, the whole thing fell upon me for many, many, many reasons. I am happy I got to work with my dad.
What keeps you from doing more work?
Nothing keeps me from doing more work. I don’t say no to the work that I get if it is slightly enticing. But I find the things that come to me are so cringy that I feel, you know. I want to do characters that will make me hate myself. Not movies that will make me hate myself. If you know what I mean. I want to push boundaries and do fun characters and interesting characters. But just the whole setup of a movie sometimes is just like they want me as …. I don’t know….not as a character but for more than that. And that I can’t do.
