Whenever a new Drishyam film arrives in theatres, one name inevitably returns to public attention — Ansiba Hassan. The actress, who plays Anju George, the elder daughter of Georgekutty and Rani George in the blockbuster franchise, has once again become a talking point following the release of ‘Drishyam 3’.Born on June 18, 1992, Ansiba is an actress, television anchor, dancer, model and television host. She is also known for participating in Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6 in 2024.
A mother’s unfulfilled dream became her daughter’s journey
In an earlier conversation with Manorama Online Ansiba opened up about the person who played the biggest role in shaping her career — her mother, Raziya.She said, “More than me, it was my mother, Raziya, who wanted me to become an actress. There is only a 16- or 17-year age difference between us, and she is the person with whom I share everything. My father, Nissar, is a photographer, and we are six siblings in the family.”Ansiba revealed that her mother had always dreamed of acting in films. However circumstances prevented her from pursuing that ambition.The actress recalled, “My mother had always dreamed of acting in films. However, coming from a conservative family, she never got the opportunity to pursue that dream. So she decided that at least her daughter should become an actress. It was my mother who took me to theatres and made sure I watched every film without fail. Gradually, I too developed a passion for cinema.”
The reality show that changed everything
Ansiba’s entry into the entertainment industry began unexpectedly during her school days. Recalling that phase, she said, “When I was in the ninth standard, I participated in a reality show. In fact, it was my mother who secretly made my younger brother send my photographs for the audition without even telling me. I was eventually selected as the show’s ‘Popular Heroine.'”
Early Tamil films led to ‘Drishyam’
Ansiba’s first acting opportunity arrived while she was still studying in Plus One. She recalled, “A portfolio of the reality show winners caught the attention of Tamil lyricist and filmmaker Ekadasi, who invited me to act in his film Konjam Veyil Konjam Mazhai. At the time, I was studying in Plus One. In that film, I played two different roles — a Plus Two student and a 28-year-old housewife.”According to Ansiba, “My second film was also in Tamil. It was titled Udumban, and I played a village girl. It was after seeing the stills from these roles that director Jeethu Joseph called me for Drishyam.” That opportunity proved to be the turning point of her career.
Destiny, success and recent controversies
Ansiba believes that destiny has guided every major chapter of her life and career. She said, “The meaning of the name Ansiba itself is ‘destiny.’ I truly believe that everything happens according to destiny, and my journey has unfolded exactly that way.”
Latest AMMA controversy
While ‘Drishyam 3’ has brought renewed attention to her acting career, the actress has also been in the news recently for her allegations against AMMA and actor Tiny Tom.The former Joint Secretary of AMMA claimed there was a conspiracy against her within the organization and alleged that complaints raised by members were not adequately addressed. According to Ansiba, she took the decision to resign from AMMA because of Tini Tom.On the other hand, ‘Drishyam 3’ is now running successfully in theatres and has crossed Rs 100 crores worldwide, according to Sacnilk.