Malayalam cinema’s reigning queen, Manju Warrier, has long captivated audiences with her versatility and emotional depth. In a recent interview, ahead of her latest film L2: Empuraan's release, the 45-year-old actress opened up about her approach to acting, revealing a philosophy that’s as grounded as it is liberating: “I do what the director wants me to do and leave all the pressure to them.”

Warrier, who returned to the screen in 2014 with How Old Are You? after a 15-year hiatus, credits her standout performances—spanning Aaraam Thampuran (1997) to Lucifer (2019)—to trusting her directors. “In my early days, my contribution was just acting,” she reflected. “I didn’t have the exposure to suggest much. Now, I go with my instinct, but I still rely on the director’s vision.” This trust shone in Asuran (2019), her Tamil debut opposite Dhanush, where she earned praise for an “intense” portrayal, and in Footage, an experimental thriller backed by Anurag Kashyap, where single-shot scenes demanded precision.

Her laid-back stance doesn’t mean a lack of agency. Warrier picks roles that excite her—like the resilient Priyadarshini Ramdas in L2: Empuraan, set for release this week —yet she shrugs off the burden of perfection. “I don’t plan much,” she said in an earlier interview. “I learn from mistakes and go with the flow.” It’s a mindset that’s kept her thriving across 50-plus films, earning her a National Film Award nod and seven Filmfare Awards South, all while juggling her latest venture as a producer with Lalitham Sundaram (2022).

For Warrier, the real joy lies in the craft, not the spotlight. “I’m happy irrespective of success or failure,” she said. As L2: Empuraan nears its premiere, her director-driven ethos promises another bold chapter in a career that defies convention—one frame at a time.