'My TV stint is still fetching me meaty roles'

Asha Sharath is known for her power-packed performances in movies such as Drishyam and Varsham.
The turning point in her movie career was surely her role as a police officer in Drishyam, directed by Jeethu Joseph. It provided her an opportunity to work in Tamil and Kannada industries as well. However, Asha says that her TV stint was elemental in her bagging the roles.“Even today, people still talk to me about my role as Prof Jayanti in the serial Kumkumapoovu. That character is still fresh in their minds though the serial was last aired two years ago. The roles that are coming to me even now are because of Jayanti,” she reveals.
“Jeethu called me because his wife Linta used to watch the serial. It was the same serial which prompted Ranjith Sankar to cast me for Varsham. Even for my current movie Anuraga Karikkin Vellam, its director Khalid Rahman narrated a few scenes referring to my role as Jayanthi,” she explains. “People think serials cater only to the female audience but it’s not true. Kumkumapoovu had a large base of male viewers as well.”
Meanwhile, a character she did almost 21 years ago for a telefilm, is making news now, after the release of Prithviraj-starrer Ennu Ninte Moideen. “I played Kanchanamala while I was in college,” reveals Asha, about her role in the 30-minute telefilm that had Mahesh Panju essaying the role of Moideen. “In preparation for the role, I had read N Mohanan’s short-story on Moideen.”
The actress tells us that she had no idea that the movie, which had Parvathy playing Kanchanamala, was based on the same story. “I didn’t know that till I read the news and reviews,” says Asha, adding that she also watched the film.