“I was born and brought up in Delhi. I came to Kerala to do my BBA. While doing BBA, I was anchoring a program called ‘Bloody Love’. Lal sir saw the program and he saw an album and so he called me for the audition. Me and my cousin went to meet Lal sir. During the audition, I was told that there were a group of people from which I had to single out a person and smile at him, not with my lips but with my eyes. I did that.”

“Then I was called to Calicut to meet MT sir. MT sir asked me about my background and asked me if I knew to read Malayalam. Then I was asked to wear ‘set mundu‘. But it was not available at first. Then somehow it was arranged and I wore it and presented myself before MT sir. Sir told me that I would be notified if I was selected.”

“I was informed about my selection one month after the audition. Until then I thought I hadn’t bagged the role because I am a very Delhi person. But then I was blessed to meet MT sir in person. This is not a chance that everyone gets. But two days before the movie pooja I was called and informed that I was selected. I was shocked and I asked ‘Is it for the main role or some other supporting role?‘.”

“And that is how I was selected to don the character of Kunjimalu.”

“My first movie was a telugu movie which was a remake of Andaaz Apna Apna in 2002. I was selected after winning the star hunt conducted by Gemini TV. I donned the role played by Aamir Khan in the original. But before the movie released, I went to US to do a movie making course at UCLA. After that I worked in Universal Pictures and some independant companies.”

“After coming back to India in 2008, I came across the casting call in Nana weekly. I sent my pictures and later received a call to come for an audition. When I told this news to my sister, Ambika, she said that I would suit well for Sathar’s character from the original. I went for the audition. They took some photographs. I met Lal Jose sir there. He told me that the casting would be done by MT sir and they would inform me if I was selected. It was a very short interview. He asked me to reduce my weight by 7-8 kgs.”

“Nothing was confirmed, but I joined the gym to shed weight. Then I got a call asking me to come as MT sir wanted to meet me. I went to meet MT sir. He looked at the photographs and looked at me from head to toe and asked me just one question – ‘Abhinayikumo ?’. I replied saying I will try my best and won’t dissapoint anyone. This meeting was over in 30-40 seconds.”

“I had an inner feeling that if I would be selected, the it would be for Sathar’s role. I had chocolate looks at that time. So I decided to get a  proper tan. I started playing badminton and cricket at noon and also started wearing lungi to get used to it. I got myself fried. Then I came to know that Neelathaamara movie’s pooja was in two days time and I concluded that I wasn’t selected. It was about 32 hours before the pooja that I got a phone call from Lal Jose sir saying that I was selected to don the character played by Sathar in the original. I was very very surprised. “

Rima Kallingal is the latest celebrity to join the bandwagon of celebs on Twitter. Follow her on Twitter to know more about her, her upcoming projects and her life.

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