Once a much beloved and highly sought after actor who made her presence known with several impactful performances, Jyothirmayi’s decision to step away from the silver screen in the last decade took many by surprise. Known for her adaptability and skill in both comedic and deeply emotional roles, Jyothirmayi’s 13-year career, which began with Pilots (2000), saw her work across Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films, in addition to Malayalam.

Jyothirmayi’s potential was evident by her third film, Bhavam (2002), itself which earned her the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress and a National Film Award (Special Mention). Following this, she found herself inundated with opportunities, many leading to major hits, including Meesa Madhavan (2002), Kalyanaraman (2002) and Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum (2003). She also received opportunities to act alongside superstars like Mohanlal and Mammootty. What made Jyothirmayi’s career even more intriguing was that, unlike many female actors of that era, she continued acting post her marriage in 2004, maintaining the same passion and commitment even after her divorce in 2011.

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However, in 2013, she chose to take a sudden break. During this hiatus, she married cinematographer-turned-director Amal Neerad in 2015. Now, after an 11-year gap, she is set to make her grand comeback and that too in a movie helmed by Amal himself. Titled Bougainvillea, the project has been generating significant buzz since early reports regarding it emerged, with the following promotional materials only amplifying the same.

The trailer of the psychological thriller that the makers unveiled recently has only skyrocketed interest as it featured Jyothirmayi, Kunchacko Boban and Fahadh Faasil exploring a completely new cinematic territory. Earlier, the song “Sthuthi” from the film had also attracted attention for its dark visuals and high-energy dance sequences performed by Jyothirmayi and Kunchacko Boban.

Meanwhile, Jyothirmayi recently opened up about how scared she was when she learned about the dance sequence, admitting she even considered fracturing her leg on purpose to avoid it. “I was very tensed at first and scared wondering how I would pull this off. The choreographers were of the mindset that the steps they created were very simple. As for me, it’s been a few years since I even exercised properly, let alone dance,” she said during a chat with Mathrubhumi.

“I was sure I won’t be able to do it. I even thought of breaking my own leg to escape from this. But the choreography team helped us tremendously. And thus, we somehow managed to get the job done,” she added.

Also featuring Sharaf U Dheen, Veena Nandakumar and Srinda in key roles, Bougainvillea features music crafted by Sushin Shyam, cinematography by Anend C Chandran and editing by Vivek Harshan. The film is set for a worldwide release on October 17.