Dushara Vijayan on choosing strong characters over commercially safe roles: 'I want my character to connect with the audience'

Dushara Vijayan, known for her content-driven movies, has chosen something completely different for her OTT debut movie called 'Exam.' Instead of choosing a glamorous or commercially safe role, the actress decided to play Jhansi, a character deeply connected to the struggles faced by many aspirants preparing for competitive examinations. Dushara recently opened up about what attracted her to the series and why meaningful stories continue to guide her career choices.

Dushara Vijayan prioritises strong characters over screen presence

Talking about her approach to selecting roles with Variety India, Dushara said, “I want my character to connect with the audience. How much screen time I get does not matter; the character does.” The actress revealed that she immediately felt a connection with Jhansi when director A. Sarkunam narrated the story. “When he explained the character to me, I knew I had to do it,” she said. For Dushara, the emotional depth and relevance of the role were far more important than the length of her appearance on screen.

Dushara Vijayan reveals why the story resonated with her

Dushara also spoke about why the central theme of 'Exam' resonated with her personally. “I have a relative who has been writing a competitive exam for the last 10 years. He has decided not to get married until he clears it,” she shared. The actress said such stories are common in many households and deserve to be highlighted. “It is a real issue, and it feels good to be part of a series that talks about it,” she added. Her comments reflect her interest in projects that mirror real-life challenges and social realities.

Action and emotion make 'Exam' a special project for Dushara Vijayan

Apart from the story, Dushara enjoyed the action elements featured in the series. “Stunts excite me,” she said while recalling the preparation process. She revealed that action director Dinesh Subbarayan trained the cast extensively, especially for the intense fight scenes. One of the most difficult scenes was a fight in a car, which had to be meticulously planned and choreographed. ‘Exam’ is yet another unique production added to Dushara Vijayan’s growing repertoire through its socially significant plot, emotional acting, and difficult action scenes.