KID NO  LONGER!

SHE first charmed cinema-buffs as a little girl, all of seven years old. Having stepped into films again after a ten-year sabbatical, Divya Unni has won the hearts of movie-goers yet again. This time as a heroine.

The first film the 17-year-old did as a heroine, opposite Dilip, clicked at the box-office, justifying director Vinayan’s confidence in her talent. The comeback vehicle has given her a firm footing in Malayalam films. Barely had the film reached theatres, when Divya Unni found a bevy of filmmakers queuing up at her doorstep, all eager to sign her on. Among them was a certain IV Sasi, a mega hit-maker in Malayalam films, who wished to sign her for Varnapakittu opposite Mohan Lal. With this film, Divya proved her mettle as an actress, and she has remained at the top ever since.

Says director IV Sasi, “Divya has the potential to become the greatest actress in India. She’s another Sridevi in the making, mark my words.” No mean compliment, coming from IV Sasi, a man known to be frugal with praise. With every outing, Divya seems to be proving Sasi right.

As a kid, Divya had a formal training in dance and music. From the age of five, she’d begun amassing prizes for her performances. She was twice crowned Kalathilakam at inter school youth festivals. Divya is adept not only at dancing but also in mono act, kathaprasangam, ottan thullal and chakyar koothu. She has also featured in television programmes and compered tele-shows, apart from modeling.

Says Divya of her comeback to films, “I felt honoured to work with Mohan Lal. He has always been a role model for me, and I used to write long letters to him gushing about his performances. But I never posted them. Now, having worked with him, I’m even more in awe of him. He is helpful and co-operative even with juniors like me. If my performance in Varnapakittu was good, all the credit goes to director IV Sasi and Mohan Lal. Together, they’ve made me a much more confident and self-assured actress than I was before.”

Divya was cast in Kalyana Souganthikam by director Vinayan, after she had worked with him in one of his television serials. Later, she has been paired with almost all the leading heroes in Malayalam films. Now, she even has a film opposite Mammootty.

Divya has had a number of stage performances both in India and abroad since 1987, when she was only six years old. Even before coming to films, she averaged 57 performances a year, a little over one a week, by no means an enviable achievement for one so young.

Though she intends to pursue acting as a career, Divya plans to complete her education as well. She’s been a brilliant performer even as a student in school. Now, she wishes to join a women’s college for she fears studying in a co-ed college will invite vulgar comments from the opposite sex.

“Ever since I can remember, films have fascinated me. I always dreamt of becoming a film star. Now that I am one, I’ll do my best to remain here as long as I can,” says Divya Unni.

The sky seems to be the limit for this 17-year-old, provided she is serious about what she says.