There’s a trending meme template that goes, “They vanished like they never existed.” It’s often used for cinema artists who disappeared from the spotlight after a promising start. And it feels like a perfect fit for the gorgeously talented Reshmi Menon.

Entering Tamil cinema as a child artist, she went on to act in over a dozen films during her brief but memorable stint. It was Inidhu Inidhu, a nostalgia-filled college drama, that truly won her fans’ hearts. From then on, Reshmi kept audiences engaged with interesting roles—until she surprised everyone with an unexpected announcement: she was taking a break from acting.

Who would walk away from such a promising career? Rumours swirled across Tinseltown. But Reshmi had her own reasons, and valid ones. Now, nearly a decade later, she’s ready to face the camera again. In this exclusive chat, she opens up and shares her journey.

Firstly, welcome back to Tamil Cinema. Even in a brief stint, you’ve portrayed memorable characters like Anitha from Kirumi. How did you decide on those roles?
I honestly didn’t give too much thought to my roles back then. Take Kirumi, for instance, where I played a mother. The script came my way, it was a good story, and they simply told me, “You have a kid in this.” I never approached it with the mindset of being a “heroine.” In fact, I was never the typical heroine, nor did I have much interest in mainstream roles. What I wanted was to act, to perform, and I naturally gravitated toward roles with depth and significance, and those were the roles that found me.

Kirumi was a beautiful film. Kathir, who’s also a close friend, made the experience even better. Although the film itself was quite serious, the shoot was the complete opposite—we spent most of our time laughing and enjoying ourselves. It was truly a wonderful team and an unforgettable experience.

What kind of discussions did you and Bobby Simha have before making this bold move?
We actually have a production house called Mudhra’s Film Factory. We’ve produced two films so far, one of which has already been released. I handle the production side of things. Bobby often teases me saying, “You’re managing production so well, you’re already a producer, why do you want to act now?”

I genuinely enjoy production; it’s both interesting and challenging, but at the same time, I have the desire to be in front of the camera. We’re still looking for the right script. If a role that truly fits me comes my way, I’d love to take it up. Bobby is very supportive. At the end of the day, it’s my choice, and he’s clear about that. In fact, he says that if we find a really good role, we’ll even produce it ourselves.

In this industry, rumours are inevitable. Some even circled around your marriage—how did you handle that?
In the beginning, there were rumours that Bobby stopped me from acting after marriage, which is absolutely not true. I became pregnant and chose to take a break. I wanted to enjoy that phase and be a homemaker. Watching my mother, I always felt it was a natural part of a woman’s life, and I wanted to experience it myself. It was beautiful, and I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. I was fortunate to take a step back and be fully present for my children. Now that they’ve grown up, it feels like the right time to return.

Another rumour that keeps surfacing is about our divorce. Shockingly, it started just three months after our wedding! I used to wonder, “We just got married, how can we already be divorced?” These stories still circulate. Half the time, according to the rumours, we’re already separated. In fact, one of my friends even believed it. When I told them I was at my husband’s home, they said, “Wait, I thought you were divorced!” I was like, “What? When did that even happen?” That’s how frequent and baseless they have been.

On a lighter note, can you share a few memories from your childhood?
I had a wonderful childhood, thanks to my parents. I come from a middle-class family, and my fondest memories are of how my dad always ensured that, no matter what, the four of us stayed together. Every year, we would travel to Kerala, and the excitement would begin right from booking our train tickets for the summer holidays. Those trips, the visits to the beach, and the little moments we shared are all etched in my memory. Childhood shapes the person you become, and I feel truly grateful to have had such a happy one.

What sort of roles can audiences look forward to seeing you in soon?
I don’t know, it really depends on the directors. I’m open to any kind of role, as long as it’s not the usual stereotype of just mothers or sisters. I want to explore different characters and do films where I can genuinely perform. For me, it’s about the director’s vision and whether I feel I can do justice to the role.

Would you be interested in collaborating with actors like Sivakarthikeyan or Vijay Sethupathi? Or is there someone else you have in mind?
I don’t have anyone specific in mind. Whatever good opportunities come my way, I’m open to them. They’re all fantastic actors and true superstars. If I get the chance, I’d be more than happy to work with them.

Do you and Bobby Simha have any plans to share the screen together again?
We haven’t come across such a script yet. But if it comes our way, we’ll definitely consider it. Never say never, anything can happen.

Since Bobby Simha is a devoted Rajinikanth fan, who would you call your favourite superstar?
Of course, I’m a huge fan. We once had the chance to meet Rajni sir as a family during the Petta shoot in Darjeeling. It happened to be my birthday, so I told him, “If I ever wanted to take a photo with someone, it would be with Rajni sir.” I’m not usually a starstruck person, but Rajni sir and Mahesh Babu are my absolute favourites. I’ve already taken a photo with Rajni sir, so now only one is left, with Mahesh Babu sir, whom I haven’t met yet.

Rajni sir was incredibly sweet. He even tried to lift my daughter Mudra, but she refused, and I teased her, saying, “Do you even know who was trying to lift you?” (laughs). Now my kids have also become superstar fans; at the same time, we admire Kamal sir too. My husband has worked with him, so in our home, we’re pretty much fans of every actor in the industry.