Actress Malavika Mohanan, who bagged one of the most coveted roles of recent times, talks about working with the Iranian legend Majid Majidi and her love for his cinematic portrayal of women and children

Known for some of the most emotionally evocative cinematic experiences, the legendary Iranian director Majid Majidi is all set to release his first India-centric film, Beyond the Clouds, globally on April 20. Produced by Zee Studios and Namah Pictures, the film marks the international debut of the lead pair - Ishaan Khattar and Malavika Mohanan.

A self-confessed Majidi fan and one of this year's most sought-after female debutants in Bollywood, Malavika was elated when she was cast to play the role of Tara for Beyond The Clouds. "Mr Majidi is a genius when it comes to storytelling and capturing the nuances of human emotions. There may be a handful of makers around the world, who showcase women and children as beautifully as he does. His female characters all have one common thread - they are all really layered yet strong women whose strength lies in the awareness of their vulnerability. The combination strength with that vulnerability is what makes these characters so special," says Malavika as she talks about working with the genius himself.

Malavika's character Tara plays big sister to debutant Ishaan Khattar's character Amir. When asked about Mr Majidi's vision for their on-screen equation, she says, "Mr Majidi was very clear about the fact that Tara was the wind beneath Amir's wings - his guiding force as it were. She probably was the only thing that made sense to him amidst all of the world's nonsense. I'm so humbled to be essaying such a beautifully written female character in Majid Majidi's film. It's a dream come true in every way."