Actress Jyotika, who is currently receiving attention for her role in the legal drama System, recently shared why she has not appeared in many Tamil films over the past few years.
The film, directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, also stars Sonakshi Sinha and Ashutosh Gowariker in important roles. While Jyotika has continued working in Hindi films and selected Malayalam projects, her last Tamil film appearance was in Udanpirappe (2021), directed by Era Saravanan.
‘I Am Waiting for the Right Story’
In a recent conversation with IndyaStory, Jyotika explained that she is deliberately taking her time before signing another Tamil project.
“I am waiting for the right story to come. I don’t want to be a crusader and carry the whole film,” the actress shared.
Jyotika added that she has already explored several women-centric characters throughout her career and now wants roles that feel fresh and emotionally layered.
“I have done it all — from playing a government school teacher to a lawyer and many women-empowerment roles. I have also played housewife characters in different shades. But now I am looking for something more and something different,” she explained.
Open to Waiting for Strong Scripts
The actress said she does not mind taking long breaks if it means finding the right role.
“I don’t mind waiting for two years for the right script to come,” she said.
According to Jyotika, she now prefers characters with emotional depth and subtle strength rather than repetitive storytelling.
Inspired by Her Role in ‘Kaathal: The Core’
Jyotika also spoke about her Malayalam film Kaathal: The Core, where she starred alongside Mammootty. The actress said the role left a strong impact on her because of its quiet yet powerful nature.
“I just loved the shade of the woman in that film. It was a silent but extremely strong role,” she said.
The actress revealed that she is now actively searching for similarly layered characters that challenge her creatively.
‘Audiences Don’t Want to See the Same Thing Again’
Jyotika believes actors must evolve with time, especially after working in the industry for decades.
“Otherwise, it becomes very boring for me and for the audience as well. They have been watching me for nearly 30 years. They don’t want me to do the same thing again and again,” she explained.
Her comments reflect a growing focus on meaningful storytelling and unconventional characters rather than simply increasing the number of releases.
