“I missed it completely! My husband was like, ‘You chose the exact moment that you were going to appear to step out.’ He looked a bit disappointed!” chuckled the news anchor for RTM1’s “Malaysia Tonight” news bulletin.
Her cameo as a newscaster lends authenticity to the film, her trademark eloquence shining through in a series of reports on the sociopolitical climate in the fictional city of Yatana.
Interestingly, Mohanaapriya almost passed on the opportunity. When she first received a message on Instagram from the film’s casting director, she dismissed it as a scam.
“I just ignored it. Two days later, she sent me the same message. My friend and I decided to check it out, and we eventually got to speak to her. That’s when we realised this was for real!” the 45-year-old recalled.
“Monkey Man”, Patel’s directorial debut, revolves around Kid, who seeks retribution for his mother’s murder. Scarred and silent, he yearns to strike back at those responsible, drawing inspiration from the Hindu monkey god Hanuman.
Although it was filmed during the pandemic, Mohanaapriya, whose scenes were shot locally at a studio, embraced the experience wholeheartedly.
“We used a local team to help Dev and his team direct my scene via Zoom. I was a little nervous. But from day one, Dev was there throughout.
“He was really involved, got his hands dirty from the get-go. He was very passionate about the whole thing,” said Mohanaapriya, who is also a communications lecturer.
She shared that Patel was “very open and accommodating” when she had some suggestions to make her lines sound more authentic. “He and his team welcomed my feedback, and that was pretty amazing.”
Although she felt in her element playing a newscaster, Mohanaapriya admitted the multiple takes were exhausting. And the set was unlike an actual newsroom – it merely consisted of a basic table, a stool, and a DIY teleprompter.
But it was the pandemic, so she had to make do.
As post-production progressed, Mohanaapriya lent her voice for voiceovers and additional dialogue recordings, further solidifying her presence as the storyteller weaving bits and pieces together.
Telling stories, of course, isn’t new to this mother of two: she used to be the de-facto narrator for her school plays, and once had to memorise the story of “Hansel and Gretel” to present before the entire school when she was 11!
“That kind of translated to what I’m doing right now: I’m still telling stories,” she said. “And I enjoy that. I enjoy the adrenaline rush.”
A one-time Astro radio newsreader, she stumbled into the industry by chance. Having graduated with a degree in biomedical science, Mohanaapriya received many opportunities to orate after winning the Miss MalaysiaIndian Global pageant in 2001.
Her experience in public speaking made her realise that presenting the news was where she belonged instead of a research lab. “I love what I do!” she said, citing RTM’s Datuk Harjit Singh Hullon and CNN’s Rosemary Church as her idols.
Throughout her career, Mohanaapriya has remained committed to using her platform to make a positive impact.
In 2002, she became the founding president of the Miss MalaysiaIndia Care Association (MMICARE), a non-profit dedicated to empowering Indian women and girls across Malaysia, which she is still actively involved in.
“I always tell them they need to try new things. Have the courage. Push yourself and step out of your comfort zone,” she said.
Her advice to young people pursuing their dreams? “Find someone who can help you and advise you without judging you. For young people today, the path is very muddled. There’s just so many options out there.
“So, find someone who can help you ground yourself. It’s very important,” she concluded.
Follow Mohanaapriya on Instagram.