‘Tillu Square’ Role Made Me Uncomfortable, Says Anupama Parameswaran

Actress Anupama Parameswaran has been juggling a variety of roles for the past few years, from commercial films to character-driven ones. After starring in Tillu Square and films like Dragon and J.S.K – Janaki V vs State of Kerala, Anupama will soon appear in her next Telugu film, Paradha. The film, directed by Praveen Kandregula of Cinema Bandi fame, is expected to release in theaters on August 22, 2025.

As part of the promotions for the film, Anupama spoke about her journey so far, especially her experience working on last year’s hit Tillu Square. The Siddhu Jonnalagadda-starrer featured her in a bold and glamorous role, very different from who she is as a person and from her earlier screen image. The performance received both praise and criticism, with some admiring her character while others questioned why she chose the role.

In a recent conversation, Anupama said that signing Tillu Square was not an easy decision for her, but she took it up as a challenge. “I took a long time to say yes to the film. I was in two minds because the role was so different from who I am. Even on set, I wasn’t really sure. I was very conscious about the dresses and the way the character was supposed to look, which was hard for me,” she said.

“I don’t usually spend a lot of time thinking about how I look or styling my hair. I’d rather not worry about outfits. The more comfortable I am, the less I need to focus on the superficial, and I can then focus on performance. But this was a challenge, like anything else we learn to do for a film. I thought about the role and the angle from which it would be developed. I knew criticism would follow, but I felt the strength of the character. Female characters like that are often overlooked in commercial cinema,” she added.

With Paradha, Anupama says the film feels much closer to her comfort zone. She noted that in Paradha, she could focus more on her performance without being burdened by issues related to looks or appearance.