I have done everything it takes to play June perfectly : Rajisha Vijayan

Malayalis remember Rajisha Vijayan the best as

Anuraga Karikkin Vellam

’s Eli, the girl who feels insecure about her relationship. The artiste, who won the Kerala State Award for the Best Actress through the movie, which was her debut project, has however been missing from Mollywood after her third film Oru Cinemakkaran in 2017.
Many wondered where she disappeared to, but clearing all doubts, she made a head-turner comeback recently. For her new get-up as a teenager in the first look of the film June, directed by Ahammed Khabeer, she also won some generous applause. The film’s team divulged later that Rajisha, who plays a girl from Kottayam, will have six different looks showing her growth from the age of 17 to 25.
Rajisha beams with happiness as she opens up about her transformation for June and the life thereafter:It’s after a year that you are back as June. How does that feel?

June was supposed to be my second movie. I had signed it about two years ago. But this project, in which I play the title character, came with many challenges that it wasn’t easy to just jump into it and start filming.

I wanted June to be fresh, so I took a year-long break to prepare for it. Many were sceptical about such a break for a single film, which even has no stars to shoulder it. It was scary, but something within me kept saying this is the right thing to do. I even felt like I am a debutante all over again, though there was no dearth of confidence in me.

This is something I have done before too. I had taken an eight-month-long break from TV anchoring before becoming Eli of Anuraga Karikkin Vellam. I consider quality a lot more important than quantity, so I will do this again if required. I want to do films that I can be happy about. There is a sense of happiness that I get when I do something, putting in a lot of hard work.



What about June urged you to sign the film?

It is a really different film, and I am sure it is also a once-in-a lifetime script for an actress. Hence, I didn’t want to miss it and wanted to give it my 100 per cent.

We have put in a lot of thought into June’s looks. Each of the looks in the different stages of her life were well-planned and sketched out. I was under the scrutiny of a dietitian and had also started working out. I was literally eating just vegetables. In fact, I was eating everything that I would never eat otherwise, alongside working out for four hours daily.

How do you feel now, after losing almost nine kilos?

I was never overweight, and I do not think losing weight ever empowers you. This is my personal opinion. Others can feel different. I am extremely happy that my hard work paid off. At times, shedding weight post a point can be hard and so, I was a bit anxious. But, I could do it and was able to pull off the sequences in which I play a teenager, well.

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We see a new Rajisha now…

(Laughs) It wasn’t the weight loss that changed my look completely, but my haircut. I had to chop off 33 inches of my hair. Losing my genetically-blessed hair, which has been part of me since childhood, mattered a lot. I was totally in love with it. My amma, ammamma and everyone at home were quite used to seeing me in my long hair. The haircut has changed my outlook and style. Short hair goes with everything and long hair looks the best with ethnic attire.
I had six different haircuts to play June. Unfortunately, I couldn’t donate as they were cut in stages to suit the shooting
schedules.

The video that shows June's makeover features the stages in which your hair was cut. You looked a bit upset in it…

Of course, I was upset. But, I tried to be as strong as I can. While the haircut was on, I didn’t cry, but I used to go to the washroom and shed tears. It was like doing away with a part of your body that has been with you for years. I had no issues maintaining it either.

Regardless, I kept the sentiments aside soon after the salon session, as I know one has to be like clay, when you are an actor. One should be ready to do anything to play your role convincingly and I have done all it takes to play June perfectly.