'Kannan Varuvan' may have been her first Tamil film, but Divya Unni is quite a veteran before the camera. She worked as a child artiste in several TV serials in Malayalam and a couple of films too. Her proficiency in the Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi forms of dance has taken her on performance tours to a number of countries. She hails from Cochin and has done her first year BA. 'I have just written my exams,' says Divya, who shuttles between Kerala and Chennai.

Excerpts from an interview with the actress:

Quest: Tell us about your entry into films.

Divya: It was director Vinayan who introduced me to Malayalam films. I had worked for him in a TV serial. And when he was directing 'Kalyana Sougandigam', he took me on. It's been three years now and I've appeared in about 25 films.

Quest: How did you get this offer to act in a Tamil film?

Divya: The first Tamil film I was offered was 'Kalvettu'. When director Pandian approached me and narrated my role, I was excited. It was a very challenging role, a serious film about casteism. Murali is my co-star. About 60% of the shooting is over. If the film hadn't got delayed that would have been my first release in Tamil. Then Lakshmi Movie Makers approached me with this offer to act with Kartik in 'Kannan Varuvan'. It was an out and out commercial film.

Quest: Are you happy with the way your role turned out?

Divya: People have appreciated my performance. When I went to Thirupathiyur for film shooting, the people who came to the location told me how much they liked me in the film. It was all very encouraging.

Quest: And how was Kartik as a co-star?

Divya: Kartik was very helpful, giving me tips and suggestions for my scenes. Otherwise, he is silent and keeps to himself.

Quest: What are the projects you are working in?

Divya: There is 'Palayathamman' with director Ramanarayanan and 'Andan Adimai" with Satyaraj, which Manivannan directs. There is a film with Madhavan on the cards. My second film to be released will be 'Shabash' with Partibhan. I play a very straightforward character in the film, who insists that her fiance knows everything about her past before he marries her. Parthiban is very jovial on the sets and he helped me with my scenes too.

Quest: What difference do you find between acting in Malayalam and Tamil films?

Divya: Initially, I did have a language problem in Tamil. Then the costume and make-up is more simple and natural in Malayalam films. Work is pretty fast there. But then 'Kannan Varuvan' was completed in 35 days.

Quest: You've done the girl-next-door type of roles in Malayalam. Would you take on a glamour role?

Divya: I've acted with almost all the top Malayalam stars like Mamootty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi. and Jairam. And all my roles have been very homely ones. But I don't mind doing a glamour role if the story is good and my character interesting. But I would definitely draw a line between glamour and obscenity. So far, I am lucky to have been offered roles that give scope for performance.

Quest: Any dream role as such?

Divya: I would like to do any role that offers variety and scope to perform, that is challenging and excites me. I don't have any dream role as such. But the role that Sridevi did in 'Moondram Pirai, that's one any actress would have wished she had done.