'Please don't take me wrong, I seriously don't like him'; yesteryear actress Shanthi Williams against Mohanlal

Shanthi Williams is a popular name among Malayalis. In a career spanning many years, Tamil Nadu native Shanti appeared in many popular serials and movies in Malayalam and made a mark with her engrossing performances. She is also the wife of famous cinematographer J Williams, who created the stellar frames of Mohanalal’s cult movie ‘Spadikam’.

Shanthi Williams has now triggered some discussions in film circles after she came against Mohanlal in an interview given to a Tamil channel.

Shanthi Williams:

“Williams was a great cinematographer. Probably one of a kind and was extraordinary. He was adventurous and would climb atop any height with a camera which many couldn’t even think of now. He would lose his temper sometimes but was a professional in all aspects. Mohanlal's ‘Hello Madras Girl’ was our film. This was right after the success of ‘Manjil Virinja Pookkal’. Whenever the actor visited our house, he would head straight to the kitchen to meet my mother. He will then enquire about the fish curry and will request for shrimp. We will prepare the food soon and those were great times.

When a Malayalam movie was being filmed near my house, Mohanlal visited my house with a food carrier lunch box to take away my home-prepared food. But the same Mohanlal didn’t pay a visit to my house when my husband died. Williams made four films with Mohanlal, but the actor couldn’t find time to visit the house. Please don’t misunderstand me....everyone likes him, maybe the whole world likes him, but not me. I even mortgaged my gold to pay 60,000 rupees to Lal for a movie. I was pregnant at that time and Lal in a friendly way scolded me about taking such risks. The same Mohanlal walked away from me even after spotting me at an airport years later.”