‘I Don’t Do Intimate Scenes’

‘There
are
some
things
I
may
not
be
comfortable
about. Explicit
things
and
all
that.’

There
is
a
reason
why

Nithya
Menen
decided
to
do
more
“happy
films”.

As
a
selective
actor,
she
has
always
chosen
projects
and
characters
that
have
intrigued
and
challenged
her
as
an
actor.

Despite
the
tough
competition
this
year,
winning
the
National
Award
for
her
role
as
Shobana
opposite
Dhanush
in

Thiruchitrambalam
is
a
well-deserved
honour.

But
being
an
actor
is
no
easy
job,
Nithya
admits.

While
she
is
aware
of
the
demands
of
the
visual
medium,
she
refuses
to
“starve
to
look
good”
on
camera.

“Anything
that
I
have
to
deal
with,
including
these
lights

(pointing
at
the
equipment
in
the
room),
being
in
so
many
different
places,
eating
so
many
different
kinds
of
things,
all
of
it
affects
my
body
very
much,”
Nithya
tells

Divya
Nair/Rediff.com,
explaining
how
she
prioritises
her
mental
and
physical
health.

“My
body
reacts
to
all
of
those
things
a
lot.
When
I
go
back
(home),
I
take
a
lot
of
time
off.
Sometimes,
I
have
taken
one
year,
or
two
years
off.”

In
the
second
part
of
a
candid
interaction,
Nithya
tells
us
about
the
importance
of
a
healthy
work-life
balance.

How
do
you
prepare
yourself
before
a
role?
Is
there
a
process
that
you
follow?

I
am
a
spontaneous
actor.

For
me,
it’s
just
very
impulsive.

Sometimes
even
just
before
going
into
a
film,
I
think,
what
am
I
gonna
do?

I
go
there
in
my
costume
and
everything.

I
stand
and
see
the
scene
and
I
start
doing
it
and
it
just
happens.
It
just
comes
out.
It’s
very
spontaneous.

I’m
not
a
method
actor,
so
I
don’t
stay
in
the
character
and
all
that.

That’s
a
bit
torturous
for
me.
The
minute
you
say
‘cut’,
I’m
out.

I
need
to
leave
it
behind.

When
I’m
back
in
the
room,
everything
is
finished
and
forgotten.
I
shower,
I
eat
and
sleep.

I
don’t
isolate
myself
(to
prepare
for
a
role
or
a
character).

A
lot
of
people
are
curious
to
know
what
the
real
Nithya
Menen
is
like.

It’s
very
unusual
for
an
actor
to
not
subscribe
to
the
expectations
of
the
industry.
Yet,
how
do
you
take
care
of
yourself
to
stay
fit
and
mentally
happy?

I
think
you
can
see
it,
really!
It
shows
(laughs).

Maybe
it’s
because
what
I
can,
and
what
I
am
able
to
offer
(to
the
project)
goes
way
beyond
that.

So
it’s
not
really
my
body
that
is
really
doing
the
work.
It’s
something
else
that
I’m
able
to
offer.

I
know
it’s
a
visual
medium.
I
know
the
importance
of
being
somewhat
visually
appealing,
but
it’s
not
that
I
take
it
lightly.

But
I
take
my
health
more
seriously.

I
do
try
to
fix
things,
to
get
healthy
and
everything,
but
I
do
it
in
a
healthy
way.

It
takes
time
and
stuff.

I
don’t
do
it
very
harshly,
starving
myself,
or
overworking.

The
physical
thing
is
not
as
important.
That
I
will
do
anything
to
get
to
that
shape.
But
I
will
be
healthy.

Given
your
hectic,
sometimes
erratic
schedules,
how
do
you
prioritise
your
health? 

Today
there
is
a
lot
of
buzz
about
workplace
safety.
How
do
you
ensure
that
you
are
safe
on
the
sets?
Does
someone
accompany
you?

You
are
making
it
sound
like
being
on
the
set
is
like
being
in
a
war
zone.

Forget
about
now,
no
one
has
ever
kept
me
company
since
I
was
19.

I
think
it’s
a
bit
exaggerated,
and
a
bit
of
a
misconception
too.

There’s
nothing
unsafe.

There
are
all
kinds
of
people
everywhere,
right?

To
make
it
look
like
film
sets
are
a
really
scary
place,
(there’s)
nothing
(like
that).

Do
you
get
nervous
before
performing
a
scene?
Has
it
ever
happened?

I
don’t
think
I’ve
ever
gotten
nervous,
in
my
life.

What
about
intimate
scenes?

I
don’t
do
intimate
(scenes).

These
are
some
areas
that
you
don’t
like.

There
are
some
things
I
may
not
be
comfortable
about.
Explicit
things
and
all
that.

And
also,
I
think,
(certain)
things
are
not
required.

I
don’t
do
those
kind
of
films.
I
choose
film-makers
of
a
certain
kind.
They
will
not
write
things
like
that.

Lastly,
what
are
your
thoughts
on
marriage
and
relationships?