‘BELIEVE IN YOURSELF NO MATTER WHAT’

Just like her director Anjali Menon who believes in gender neutrality when it comes to her filmmaking role, Nazriya is equally vocal about her equation with her directors.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with being a woman or a man… it is about how human beings are. So I felt equally comfortable with a lot of male directors – I can’t lie and say because she is a female director (I was more comfortable)… it’s because she is Anjali Menon and how she is, how she creates an atmosphere – it isn’t because she is a woman. It isn’t that for me.. I’ve had really good experiences working with men in this industry. I keep saying that I haven’t gone through or faced any of these issues that has been raised now,” she says referencing the recent controversies the Malayalam Film Industry has been embroiled in.

“But it is a really good phase we are at right now because everyone has a say, even women are allowed to have their own association which is a good thing.”

So are things different in the industry compared to when she started out?

“Things are slowly opening up; people are speaking and people are ready to hear what others have to say and that’s a good thing.”

Nazriya is quite clear about her message to every youngster out there: “Be yourself. Be honest and do your best. Be hardworking towards whatever you want in life.

“Believe in yourself no matter what you are going through.”