Malayalam actress Menaka returns to acting

Thiruvananthapuram, March 9 (IANS) Menaka, a yesteryear actress of Malayalam films, will don the greasepaint after 19 years.

The former actress, who had quit a successful acting career when she married film producer Suresh Kumar, is making a comeback, albeit on the small screen.

She is slated to play the lead role in mega TV serial "Kaliveedu".

Kerala has seen comebacks by several former heroines in the last two years. However, except Sheela and Urvasi, the others, like Ambika, Seema, Reena and Kalaranjini, had to be content with television serials.

In her short film career 1980-86, Menaka acted in 116 films, mostly in Malayalam. She also did a few movies in Kannada and Telugu.

She has worked with many leading actors of the time, including the late Prem Nazir, Soman and Sukumaran. She has also acted opposite current superstars Mammooty, Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi.

Menaka, who has two daughters studying in Classes 8 and 11, said she had been rejecting offers from leading south Indian film directors for the past two years as family was her first priority.

She told IANS: "But now that they (daughters) have grown up, Suresh (husband) asked me to productively use my time. I decided that serials are best because I can shoot during daytime and be back when my children return home."

"I will be extremely selective. Even if my husband offers me a role, I will do it only if I am convinced that the role suits me. I prefer the role of a homely lady," said Maneka, who hails from Chennai but speaks fluent Malayalam.