Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Nov 3: Young actor Anishma Anilkumar is celebrating another successful phase in her career after delivering her third consecutive hit in Tamil cinema. Her latest film, director Raja Karuppasamy's Modha Rathri, may not have matched the box-office performance of her previous outing Youth, but it has gained attention following its OTT release and earned her considerable recognition.

In a recent interview with Sudhir Srinivasan, Anishma spoke about her love for cinema, her father's influence on her interest in films and the emotional bond she shares with him.

The actor revealed that her father is a huge fan of Kamal Haasan and regularly took her to watch films during her childhood. She said these experiences played a significant role in developing her passion for cinema.

"Honestly, the very reason I fell in love with cinema is my father. He is a huge Kamal Haasan fan and used to take me to every film. But when he realised that I didn't see cinema simply as entertainment the way he did, it wasn't just a surprise — it was a total shock to him," she said.

Anishma also opened up about how her relationship with her father changed as she grew older. Recalling their close bond during her childhood, she said her friends often admired her father for being approachable and someone she could share anything with.

However, she said family members began advising her to maintain physical distance from her father after she reached a certain age. The change was painful for her, as she continued to value their affectionate relationship.

She recalled that she would hug and kiss her father despite being told that such displays of affection were no longer appropriate.

"It still makes me sad that he doesn't touch and talk to me as affectionately as he used to. As far as I'm concerned, I need that physical touch. No matter how much they tell me not to, I still hug and kiss my father and grandfather," she added.

Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Anishma made her acting debut with a key role in Antony Varghese's Poovan (2023), co-produced by Girish AD. She subsequently played her first female lead opposite Naslen in Girish AD's I Am Kathalan (2024).

She later appeared opposite Basil Joseph in Maranamass (2025), before making her Tamil cinema debut with Sirai (2025), which reportedly grossed Rs 31.65 crore worldwide, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.

Her next Tamil film, Youth (2026), emerged as a major commercial success, collecting Rs 71.73 crore worldwide. Modha Rathri, which earned around Rs 8.82 crore, was described as a sleeper hit despite its comparatively modest box-office performance.

With three consecutive successful Tamil films, Anishma is steadily strengthening her position in the industry.