What did you do to understand Mari?
When I was offered Poo, I was finishing the Malayalam film Flash with Mohanlal. I always work only in one movie at a time. After Flash, I had two months to prepare for Poo.
The preparation started with talking to Sasi Sir in Tamil over phone. Mari knows only one language and that is Tamil, and she thinks in that language too. So, I had to know the language first to know her. I slowly learnt to frame sentences in Tamil in my mind. I needed to know everything about Mari including her most personal thoughts, whether romantic, political, or religious. I also watched a lot of Tamil films without sub titles.
Did you become Mari after getting into her mind?
I did. It took me almost a week to be her. It was a gradual internalisation, and it happened without even my knowledge.
When I came back after the shoot was over, I did feel really emotional to leave the set and also Mari. I had become Mari in such a way that even after the shooting, I had trouble getting back to my life. But I must tell you every actor should have such experiences. I also learnt a lot from Mari.
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