Kalyani Priyadarshan on Lokah: Speechless and beyond grateful

Kalyani Priyadarshan is “speechless and beyond grateful” at how Lokah: Chapter 1 has been received. The fantasy drama, rooted in folklore with a female superhero, Chandra, at its heart, has stormed into the `200 crore club in under three weeks.

Directed and co-written by Dominic Arun with Santhy Balachandran, the film stars Naslen as the male lead, while Tovino Thomas and Dulquer Salmaan appear as superhero characters.“It’s all been so surreal,” says Kalyani, who also had another Onam release, Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira opposite Fahadh Faasil. In a conversation with us, she talks about reaching the `200 crore club with a woman-led film, and what it was to prep for the role in it. Excerpts:

It’s rare for a woman-led Malayalam film to cross the ₹200 crore club. Has the gravity of it sunk in?I’m not entirely sure about the exact numbers, and I do think Bollywood films like Gangubai Kathiawadi crossed ₹200 crores.

What’s exciting is the conversation around women-led films achieving these numbers. The success widens doors for more such stories to get backed. Honestly though, the real joy comes from seeing how people are engaging with the film and just the way they talk about it.A lot of film personalities have praised your performance as Chandra. What does that recognition feel like?It feels incredibly special when the very people I’ve looked up to and drawn inspiration from are the ones asking others to watch the film. When actors of reputed stature support the movie, it’s humbling and motivating.

I’m so grateful to be on the receiving end of that warmth.

Tell us about the time you got involved in this project. Did the story hook you or were younervous about playing a yakshi?I was excited the moment I heard it — who wouldn’t be? I wasn’t sure if I had what it takes to pull it off, but some stories come once in a lifetime and deserve everything you have to give. This was one of them. It reminded me of why I became an actor — the stories I wanted to tell, the worlds I wanted to build, the risks I wanted to take. Dulquer and I had often spoken about the kind of cinema we wanted to do, and I felt lucky we got to do it together.What was it like having strong women on the set, including co-writer Santhy Balachandran?Having Santhy wasn’t just about getting the woman’s perspective here — she highlighted things often overlooked in a male-dominated space, and her writing gave us the chance to address them. Our set had many talented women across departments, and their contributions shaped the film in ways that were invaluable.

What kind of preparation went into the stunt sequences?It was intense and rewarding. We trained for months — boxing, Muay Thai, strength work, and spent lots of time training with harnesses and ropes since they were key to the stunts.

Every move was drilled until it felt effortless and safe. It was one of the most challenging parts of the shoot, but also the most fun I’ve ever had on set.Dominic Arun is said to have guided you to tone down your natural bubbly screen presence. Was this role emotionally tougher than physically?Preparing physically was easier than preparing emotionally. Dominic had lived with this character — Chandra — for years and had a very specific vision; how she walked, spoke, even the way she looked at people.

I had to unlearn a lot of my natural style and surrender completely to his guidance. That process allowed me to grow as an actor and show the audience a very different side of me.

What was the energy like on set with Naslen, Tovino, and Dulquer?The way this film was received has so much to do with the love and passion of everyone involved. The energy on set was incredibly positive. We became like family after working and travelling together for months.

This success feels extra special because we get to share it with each other.With two big movie releases this Onam, are we in the Age of Kalyani?(Laughs) It’s all been surreal. The craziest part has been the many ways people are engaging with Chandra — fan art, scrapbook cutouts, even a ‘Kalyani omelette’! For me, that’s the most rewarding part — seeing creativity spark in others because of something we created.What’s next for you?I’m currently shooting for Marshall with Karthi sir in Tamil.

It’s set in the ’60s, in a rural backdrop, and is a very different character for me. Most of my energy is going into getting it right. I’m really excited.‘I’ll be greedy to do a Bollywood movie’While Kalyani says she would love to work in Bollywood, she doesn’t expect to be directed by father Priyadarshan. “My dad has always encouraged me to create my own path because it would be more fulfilling, so I don’t think he will be directing me anytime soon.

As for Bollywood, I’ve always wanted to tell interesting stories and play compelling characters, no matter the language. If such a script comes my way, I’d be greedy to add it to my filmography!” she says.Your father, director Priyadarshan’s advice — ‘success should never go to your head and failure should never go to your heart’ — has gone viral. How did your parents react to your success?Like any parents, my mother (actress Lissy) and father are proud and happy because they saw how much work went into this film. My dad, with his years in the industry, always reminds me to stay grounded — enjoy the moment, but keep looking ahead without overthinking future success or failure.