Jyotika explains how the commercial failure of his debut Hindi film changed the course of his life and career, eventually leading him to Chennai and superstardom in Southern cinema.Speaking ahead of her upcoming film System with Sonakshi Sinha, Jyotika reflected on her Bollywood debut with Doli Saja Ke Rakhna and why she decided to move away from Mumbai after the film failed to do well at the box office.
“My first Hindi film didn’t do well”
Jyotika made her acting debut opposite Akshaye Khanna in the year PriyadarshanDoli Saja Ke Rakhna movie in 1998. Although he still remembers the film fondly, he admitted that its failure at the box office pushed him towards the Tamil film industry.“I went there (to the Tamil film industry) from Hindi after my first film didn’t do well because of the box office numbers,” Jyotika revealed to NDTV, adding, “Though I think it was a very sweet film.”The actor said Chennai eventually became much more than a workplace for him.
“Chennai gave me my family”
Expressing her gratitude to the Tamil film industry, Jyotika credited her for giving her meaningful roles and shaping her personal and professional life.“I love Chennai. I think it’s traditional, it’s given me my bread and butter, it’s given me my family,” he said.Over the years, Jyotika became one of the most celebrated stars of South cinema, known for taking on performance-driven parts.“I’ve played deaf and dumb, I’ve played blind. I’ve played every character I could ask for, so that’s like a gift from God to me,” he added.
“Hindi films now offer layered roles”
After more than two decades away from Bollywood, Jyotika feels that Hindi cinema is finally writing stronger and more layered roles for women.“I felt again today that they are not writing very different roles,” he said while explaining why he had earlier moved away from Hindi films.“Now coming back to Hindi, I am getting very different roles to play. And I am getting a very warm reception for South. It is all very connected. I don’t see any difference. Just being in the right place at the right time,” he added.
Jyotika is nostalgic about Mumbai
The actor got excited about returning to Mumbai after 26 years and talked about the nostalgia attached to the city where he grew up.“I love Mumbai, I grew up here. I was born here, I did my schooling here,” said Jyotika.“Even crossing the street in front of my school is nostalgic for me. Everything I love about Mumbai, pani puri, bhel puri, even speaking Hindi, I missed everything,” he added.
Sonakshi Sinha on choosing stronger female roles
Meanwhile, Sonakshi Sinha also talked about moving away from pure commercial entertainers like Dabangg and Rowdy Rathore to more layered characters with greater depth and emotional agency.Jyotika and Sonakshi will next be seen together in System directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari. The film will premiere on Prime Video on May 22.
