‘When I was single, my focus was only on cinema’: Lena explains why she chooses fewer films; says family life now gets more attention | Malayalam Movie News
Malayalam actress Lena has explained why she is taking up fewer films after spending several years working extensively across the industry. The actress said in a recent interview that her priorities have changed, allowing her to devote more time to family life, writing and entrepreneurship. She also discussed her latest release, ‘Bouma’, and the elements that attracted her to the mystery thriller.Lena has been part of Malayalam cinema for three decades. She made her debut with ‘Sneham’ and has since appeared in more than 130 films, taking on a variety of roles. Following the 2011 release of ‘Traffic’, she became a particularly active presence on screen. There were years when she worked on as many as 10 to 12 films. However, her appearances have become less frequent recently, following a conscious decision to be more selective.
Lena recalls being a workaholic during her single years
In an interview with Manorama Online, Lena explained that she once devoted most of her time to acting. Being single and having fewer personal commitments allowed her to concentrate almost entirely on professional assignments. She said that working on multiple projects in a year was routine then.“I decided on my own that I did not have to keep doing too many films back to back. Earlier, when I was single, my focus was only on cinema. Since I did not have any other commitments, I could spend more time working. I have done as many as 12 films in a year. Back then, I was a big workaholic.”
Actress now prioritises family and other interests
Lena said her life now includes several commitments beyond acting. She is making time for her family and pursuing interests that require attention outside film sets. The actress also revealed that she is working on new books and exploring entrepreneurship.“However, I now make time for my family life and other things as well. I am working on new books. I am also involved in matters related to entrepreneurship. As I started focusing on more areas of life, I became more careful about choosing films. That is why I am now more selective about the projects I take up.”
Lena explains what attracted her to ‘Bouma’
The actress also spoke about the changing nature of Malayalam thrillers and the growing familiarity audiences have developed with the genre.“For some time now, Malayalam cinema has been producing more thriller films. Audiences have become familiar with suspense thrillers and crime-solving stories. Malayalam cinema then moved towards realistic films. Things even reached a point where it became difficult to distinguish between cinema and real life.”Lena said ‘Bouma’ offered something different through its combination of realism and more cinematic sequences. She was particularly drawn to the film’s visual treatment and moments that audiences might not usually encounter in conventional movies.“However, ‘Bouma’ combines realism with several cinematic moments. The film also features certain visuals that are not commonly seen in regular movies. That was the main aspect that attracted me to the project.”Directed by Rejin S Babu, ‘Bouma’ features Dileesh Pothan and Sagar Surya alongside Lena. The mystery thriller began its theatrical run on Thursday, November 12. The film collected Rs 50 lakh in India net earnings on its opening day. Its India gross stood at Rs 56 lakh, matching its worldwide gross. ‘Bouma’ recorded 401 shows across the country, with an overall occupancy of 36%.The film received 2.5 star rating out of 5 from ETimes.
