'Ravanaprabhu' re-release: Vasundhara Das says many advised Ranjith not to cast her-'My personality wouldn’t suit'

As 'Ravanaprabhu' returns to theaters with its much-anticipated re-release, actress Vasundhara Das, who portrayed the strong and free-spirited Janaki, expressed her happiness about audiences getting another chance to relive the film’s magic.


In an interview with Maatinee Now, she shared, “For the past 24 years, I have felt the love of Malayalis not only in Kerala but in every corner of the world through this film.”


The actress said the response to the re-release has brought back emotional memories of her experience working on one of ’s most celebrated films. “It’s overwhelming that after so many years, people still remember Janaki and what she stood for,” she added.

The actress says many advised Ranjith not to cast her

Vasundhara revealed that she faced resistance when she was first offered the role. “Many people told Ranjith not to cast me in 'Ravanaprabhu.' They thought my personality wouldn’t suit the film,” she said. “But Ranjith explained how much care he took in shaping the character of the ‘free-spirited’ Janaki.”


Describing Janaki as one of her most empowering roles, she added, “She is fiercely independent, has her own opinions, and is very autonomous. That’s why I wanted to play her. It was a role I always wished for in my career.”

Memories of the shoot

Reminiscing about the film’s shoot, Vasundhara fondly recalled her first day in Pollachi, arriving straight from her Tamil film Citizen. The first sequence shot was the song “Pottu Kuthedi,” which involved four days of running. “It felt like a place where people consciously bring their artistic abilities to life,” she said.


She also shared a funny incident: “When Jagdish’s character said, ‘I’ve come to take you away,’ I couldn’t stop laughing. We had to retake the scene several times—it was so cute!”


Concluding on an emotional note, Vasundhara said, “I am never alone in the world. Malayalis everywhere make me feel protected and loved unconditionally.”


Meanwhile, the re-release of the Mohanlal starrer is now running in houseful screens.