Shamna Kasim

“What leads me is the conviction that as an artiste, attempting versatile roles will help me improve.”

“When I was asked to play the lead character Mohini in Avunu' I asked Ravi Babu why he chose me. He said he wanted someone who can act well. I felt nice.”

“I am not called for good roles in Malayalam films for reasons which I cannot fathom.”

“I'm basically a dancer and cinema just happened to me, sometimes I still wonder how I could become an actor. My friends too keep asking how I pulled it off.”

“I don't want to star in films for the sake of acting.”

“Be it a cameo, a character role or a lead role, I am happy that people are finally recognising my acting calibre and are casting me in their films.”

“A lot of substantial roles are coming my way from Tamil and Telugu, and I am happy with the way my career is progressing.”

“As I always say, I don't want to limit myself to being an ingredient in any dish. I want to be the sole flavoring agent, without which making the dish is impossible.”

“Moreover, I am confident when I act without make-up; I feel free, as there is no hindrance.”

“When people question me too much, I generally ask them if such rules are applicable to someone like actor Mammootty. They reply, Mammootty is a man and you are a woman. You aren't supposed to do certain things.' And I go like, Why not? Are there separate rules for Muslim men and women?'”

“I don't say no to dance shows on TV channels as they have always served as stress busters. I thoroughly enjoy dancing.”

“I am scared when I hear the word 'marriage' but I cannot say to my family that I don't want to marry at all.”

“There have been ups and downs in my life, and at a point of time, I had thought of even quitting from films, by focusing on dance alone.”

“There are offers, but I would sign the dotted line only when a project excites me enough to spare time for it.”

“Asking Muslims to stay away from social media is downright absurd.”

“I am more comfortable working in Tamil films rather than in Malayalam.”

“I am playing a brave girl in Thagararu.' I was told by the director that Madurai girls are naturally brave and during my shoots in the city, I realized that this is true about the girls from Madurai.”

“To be frank, I am confused. If an actress does a cameo dance sequence, it is often referred to as an item number, if an actor does the same, it is just a dance number!”

“Like every girl, I had dreams of marriage, but I got victimized in a cheating scandal. When the proposal came through the family, everyone was happy. I had started talking to him with the consent of both families and after a week, all of a sudden, we got to know that I wasn't even speaking with the person whose picture had been given to us.”

“I'm friends with many actors across the southern film industry, who've been my co-stars, too, and with whom I share a great rapport.”