I lived like a woman for a year: Sharan

One of Sandalwood’s most prolific comedians, Sharan, is gearing up for the “role of a lifetime”: the title character — of a woman — in this week’s release Jai Lalitha. “This is a film in which I have not just acted like, but also lived like a woman,” says Sharan, explaining further, “When I first got the offer for Jai Lalitha, the remake of the Malayalam film Mayamohini, I rejected it outright, as I wasn’t confident about playing a character meant for seasoned actors.In the past, very few actors have attempted this, and those who did — like Kamal Haasan, Sridhar, Jaggesh and even Dileep (who was seen in Mayamohini) — are all legendary in their own right. I was not sure I could justify playing this character.” But the team insisted and Sharan gave it a second thought, albeit on the condition that they give him enough time to attempt to transform himself into the character. “This film belongs to the comedy genre and that is my forte. So I decided to have a go at it,” he says.
But there were several factors playing on his mind. “If you are just acting like a woman for a scene or two, mistakes are pardonable, but not when you have to live like a woman. I had several challenges before me. For starters, I had to lose the weight I had put on for Victory and then some more. I went on a strict cardio exercise regime and followed a zero fat and carbs diet. Then came the most difficult bit — the beauty treatment. I nearly died when I had to get my eyebrows threaded and my entire body waxed,” laughs Sharan. His transformation, though, was not just limited to his external appearance.
“For nearly four months, I shut myself at home, shunned guests, and wore my wife’s clothes. I wanted to get everything right, including voice modulation, body language, gait, posture, etc.,” says Sharan, who then spent 7-8 months shooting for the film. The effort, he adds, seem to have paid off, as the initial reactions to his images in women’s garb have been welcoming. “I have worn saris, salwar kurtas, miniskirts, dubbed for myself, and even done an item number, and am very satisfied with the final product. But more than what you get to see onscreen, the journey into the life of a woman is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I wanted to give it my best, within my limitations, and hope that people like it,” he signs off.