Apr 04, 2026 4:48pm IST
Anjali Patil: ‘I Have Special Love For The Tamil Language As Well As For the people And State of Tamil Nadu’
For Anjali Patil, acting in films across languages is nothing special. Shortly to be seen in “The Narmada Story,” she has wrapped Sudipto Sen’s “Charak” and has acted in one of her productions, “Selvi” in Tamil. In her 15-year career, she has been part of films in many languages -- Hindi, Marathi (her mother-tongue), Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English and even a Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) film:. She has won seven awards for acting, and also a National Award for “Naa Bangaru Talli.” For about five years now, she has also been trying to establish herself as a writer-producer.
Hindi cinema aficionados will best remember her as the fierce Naxalite commander in Prakash Jha’s “Chakravyuh,” in the important role of Zeenat in “Mirzya,” as the local Adivasi election officer in “Newton” and as Shreyas Talpade’s wife in “Kaun Pravin Tambe?.” She was also seen in Anubhuti Kashyap’s black comedy “Afsos.” Down South, she is best known for her role in Rajinikanth’s “Kaala.”
Excerpts from an interview…
What drew you to ‘The Narmada Story’?
Of late, I have been doing less acting as I have started writing and producing films. Zaigham Imam, the director, approached me for “The Narmada Story.” I was drawn to it because the film sheds light on the realities faced by tribal women while celebrating their strength, courage and resilience. We are working within the system and trying to correct it. The film is inspired by true events in Narmadapuram, near the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh.
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Why have you steered clear of mainstream cinema?
Films where you leave logic at home are not a part of my system! For me, it is difficult to digest something like that after being part of Kalidas and Shakespeare plays in my drama school days! I have been associated with theatre for six years, first at the Lalit Kala Kendra in Pune University and then at the National School of Drama, Delhi. But in my upcoming films, I am trying to balance art with palpable audience-friendly cinema, trying to find that sweet spot in between!
Tell us about your new Tamil production.
I have just finished “Selvi.” We are taking it to the Hongkong Finance Forum and hoping that it is also selected for Cannes. The film is on homecare nurses’ lives, but not at all like All we Imagine as Light. I am playing the lead. After that, I have plans to showcase it at the International Film Festival of Kerala and then have screenings in Mumbai and so on.
You love to do films in multiple languages.
Yes, but I have special love for Tamil as well as for the people and state of Tamil Nadu. After I did “Kaala” with Rajanikanth-sir, they made me feel like their own.
What else have you done recently as a producer?
Along with Vikramaditya Motwane and Nikhil Advani, I co-produced the Bengali film, “Shadowbox,” with Tillotama Shome, which premiered at Berlin last year. I co-produced an Australian film, “The Moogai, “which opened at Sundance. I have acted in the Marathi short, “Veni”, which I also produced.
So it’s a total adieu to theatre?
Well, since 2011, it’s only been cinema! Your medium changes, like an artist who shifts from water-colour to acrylic! When you are in your twenties, you have the different arrogance of youth. Time humbles you and I have now come to value this medium and its resources. Gradually, the craft of acting also becomes easier, almost like second skin. And I am enjoying that process. There is so much to do still; like direction, for example! I think I have accomplished only five percent of what I want to achieve!
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