Vettam's Theepetti Kolli aka Bhavna Pani: I’m a one-movie wonder, but this one movie is worth fifty

"Theepetti Kolli..." — just that one word is enough to bring her face to the mind of every Malayali. Even though she appeared in only one Malayalam film, Bhavna Pani carved a permanent spot in the hearts of movie lovers with her portrayal of the adorably quirky Veena in Vettam.More than two decades since its release, Vettam continues to live on, whether it’s a memorable dialogue quoted in conversation or a meme doing the rounds on social media, the film remains a part of everyday life for cinephiles.Yet, there's one question that has lingered in the minds of fans all these years: Where is Veena now?Well, ETimes has the answer. In an exclusive chat, actress Bhavna Pani finally opens up, putting to rest the curiosity of every Vettam fan.“I’m very much here, right where I’ve always been,” Bhavna Pani said with a smile. “I’m based in Mumbai, my hometown, and I’ve been keeping busy with musicals, dance performances, ad shoots, and a few film projects as well.”Eager to know more, we couldn’t help but jump to the question that every Vettam fan has wondered: how did she land the role of Veena in Priyadarshan’s iconic film?“Your question has the answer in it; it was all because of Priyadarshan sir.

When the offer came, I didn’t ask about the script or the cast. It was a Priyadarshan film, and that was enough for me to say yes. Even after two decades, he remains a dear friend and continues to be a mentor I deeply respect,” Bhavna shared.Reflecting on her experience working alongside Dileep and legendary figures of Malayalam comedy like Innocent, Jagathy Sreekumar, Cochin Haneefa, Kalabhavan Mani, and others, Bhavna describes it as the greatest stroke of luck in her acting career.“I think I have my ignorance, or rather, my lack of awareness about the industry, to thank. Back then, I genuinely didn’t realize I was working alongside such legendary stars. Maybe that’s why I wasn’t intimidated. They were all so warm and welcoming that I never panicked or felt the weight of the frame I was sharing. Looking back now, I feel incredibly lucky to have had that opportunity,” she said.Speaking about her experience working on the film, Bhavna shared that it was both exciting and challenging in equal measure.“I’m truly a director’s actor; if Priyan sir had asked me to jump off a cliff, I would’ve done it without hesitation,” Bhavna said with a laugh. “He’s an absolute master when it comes to comedy.”She fondly recalled filming the iconic airplane scene with Dileep: “Priyan sir simply told me to copy whatever Dileep was doing, and I did just that. That innocence in Veena is what made the scene so memorable. It wasn’t just about the dialogues; the entire team stunned me with how they crafted comedy.

For Priyan sir, even the location becomes a part of the humour. Remember the scene where Dileep gets off the train and ends up swinging from the roots of a tree? Moments like that, there was just laughter all around on set.

”However, the role didn’t come without its challenges, especially for someone new to Malayalam. “As a non-Malayali, learning and delivering the dialogues was tough,” she admitted. “Priyan sir would take such tight close-ups that there was no way you could say ‘1234’ and fix it in dubbing later.

Every night, I would sit and memorise my lines before the shoot. Even for the song, I had memorized the lyrics. But now, looking back, I’m so proud I did all of that.

”Bhavna Pani is a multitalented artist who has earned admiration not just for her acting but also for her accomplishments as a Kathak dancer, theatre performer, and model. She made her acting debut with the Hindi film Tere Liye, and soon expanded her presence in the South Indian film industry, appearing in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu films.But after leaving a lasting impression as Veena in Vettam, one question lingered among fans, where did she disappear? Bhavna has an answer to that.“Well, Vettam was my last commercial hit. Soon after the movie’s release, I embarked on an international tour with the musical Bharathi. I was fortunate to be part of Naseeruddin Shah’s theatre group, Motley. For nearly 12 years, I traveled the world with the team. For most people, the career progression is theatre, then TV, then movies—but for me, it was the reverse.

Theatre has always been my first love; I truly consider myself a theatre baby.

Now, along with acting, I am also a director, I direct the musical Devdas,” the artist said.Even after two decades and just one Malayalam film, Bhavna continues to be cherished by the Malayali audience. The actress shared that she feels truly overwhelmed and grateful for all the love and support.“Back when we were shooting, whenever they started calling me Theepetti Kolli, I used to get really annoyed.

I kept wondering—why are they calling me a matchstick? But now, Theeppattikkolli is what every Malayali knows me by. It’s like my second name,” she laughed. “Even today, when I scroll through my Instagram, I see 25 to 50 messages asking, ‘Where are you, Theepetti Kolli?’ I admit, I’m a one-movie wonder, but honestly, this one movie is worth fifty.

”With Mollywood currently experiencing a wave of re-releases, we asked Bhavna if she would like to see Vettam brought back to the big screen.“Some time ago, I came across a video of Vettam being screened at a college. People were dancing, laughing, and even throwing money in excitement. It made me so happy to see that Vettam is still celebrated. Not just during its initial release, the movie has always brought families together in front of their TV screens for a good time. So yes, I think it would be wonderful if Vettam was re-released,” she shared.Now, for the big question: When can we expect you to make your comeback to Malayalam cinema?“Dear fans, well-wishers, directors, and filmmakers, I want you to know that I am very much here. Back then, when Malayalam cinema called for me, God had other plans. But now, I’m ready, if Malayalam films still want me, I’m excited to make a comeback. One thing I must say: if Theepetti Kolli is to return, it has to be truly worth it,” she concluded.