Kalyani Priyadarshan, the lead actress of the Malayalam superhero film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, has recently opened up about the anxieties and fears she faced before the film's release. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Priyadarshan confessed to experiencing intense pre-release jitters about how the audience would perceive the movie, which significantly deviated from typical Malayalam cinema.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under Wayfarer Films, features Priyadarshan as Chandra, a mysterious woman who arrives in Bengaluru and gets entangled in a battle against evil. The film, which also stars Naslen, Sandy, Arun Kurian, and Chandu Salim Kumar, hit theaters on August 28, 2025.
Priyadarshan revealed that she and co-star Naslen remained secluded on the day of the release, anxiously waiting for the initial audience reactions. "We were very nervous up until the day of release. On the day of the release, me and Naslen didn't step out. We were in our rooms, hoping that people wouldn't say anything bad about us," she stated. The actress also worried that viewers would misinterpret Chandra's stoic demeanor as a weak performance. The director's instruction that Chandra should not express emotion like a typical human heightened her concern about appearing stiff.
The turning point came around 3:00 PM when positive reviews started pouring in. "Around 3:00, when we knew good reviews were coming in, we called each other and said, 'I think we can step out now'," Priyadarshan recalled. These positive early reviews, coupled with the unwavering support of producer Dulquer Salmaan, boosted the team's confidence.
Priyadarshan also shared details about a phone call from Salmaan before the release, where he told her not to focus on the box office numbers but to know that he was happy as a producer. He also expressed that he wouldn't mind if the film didn't make a lot of money as long as it found its audience.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra became a massive blockbuster, grossing over ₹300 crore worldwide. It was lauded for its direction, performances, visual effects, and unique blend of Kerala folklore with the superhero genre. Priyadarshan's performance as Chandra was particularly praised, solidifying her position as a leading actress in Malayalam cinema.
Priyadarshan also credited director Dominic Arun for the film's success, acknowledging his clear vision and ability to create something exceptional and new within the Malayalam film industry. She said that actor Basil Joseph encouraged her to take on the project and sensed that something special was in the making.
One interesting detail Priyadarshan revealed was that the interval block was the only part of the film that wasn't strictly planned. The team felt that some scenes weren't working and trusted their instincts to reshape that moment during the shoot and editing process. This decision ultimately contributed to the film's success.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra has since been released on JioHotstar, making it accessible to a wider audience. A sequel, Lokah Chapter 2, starring Tovino Thomas, has already been announced, expanding the Lokah cinematic universe.
