Both my wishes have come true: Vimala Raman

Vimala Raman is on cloud nine.
The reason? The actress was able to fulfil two of her long cherished wishes recently'to be part of Priyadarshan directorial and also to play a mythological character. She says that her first wish got materialised when she was cast in the thriller 'Oppam' with Mohanlal and the second, when she was roped in to play a goddess in the Telugu film 'Om Namo Venkatesa' with Nagarjuna.
'Working with Mohanlal in 'Oppam' itself is a pleasure. But more than that, I was thrilled about being in a Priyadarshan film. I grew up watching his comedy films during my childhood in Australia and used to love them. At that age I didn't even know who the director was, as you don't pay attention to those things. And now I'm like, 'Oh my God, I'm acting in one of Priyadarshan's films! ' says Vimala, who has completed the shoot for the movie.
Although the actress has worked with many experienced directors, working with Priyadarshan was something else altogether, she says. 'Most directors will have a picture of what they want during the shoot, but there will still be master shots, suggestion shots and counter shots. But Priyadarshan has the edited scene in his mind and there are no extra shots whatsoever. He is crisp and fast in his filmmaking style and everything is precise and perfect.'
Oppam is also a comeback movie in Malayalam for the actress, whose previous Malayalam movie was about eight years ago. 'It felt wonderful to be back and I didn't feel like there was a gap in between. Everyone was welcoming and I knew them all from my previous films. My last film with Lal sir was College Kumaran, and it was like a re-union to act with him again.'
The actress doesn't want to divulge much about her character, except that it's a simple one. 'All I can say is that the Malayalam audience has never seen me in a role like this before. It's a feather in my hat, not the usual run-of-the -mill stuff,' says Vimala, who is in talks for a couple of Malayalam movies.
Her wish to act in a mythological film was fulfilled by Telugu director Raghavendra Rao, who has cast her in his film Om Namo Venkatesa. Vimala will reportedly be seen as Goddess Lakshmi in the film, which has Nagarjuna in the title role. 'I have always loved to do mythological and historical films. I had done a couple of them, like Aparajitha in Kannada, but this character is a dream come true. It is a pretty big project and I am really excited about it. I can't wait to try on the costumes and make-up,' she says.
Interestingly, although Vimala mostly speaks in English with an Australian twang she has never had trouble acting in South Indian or Bollywood films, she says. 'I think it depends on your interest in languages more than anything else. I love languages and can speak fluent Telugu and conversational Malayalam. Although I grew up abroad, I was exposed to Sanskrit all through while learning and performing Bharatanatyam,' she signs off.