Bangalore:
Before she shot to national notoriety with her involvement in the murder of Neeraj Grover, Maria Susairaj had worked in a few films in the Kannada film industry. And just as people are divided in society as to whether she had done her time or deserved more punishment, those she worked with in the Kannada film industry also have differing opinions.
Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) is not the only filmmaker who would think of casting Maria Susairaj in a film role. A director she had worked with in the Kannada film industry before her move to Mumbai considers it a possibility.
"She was very good when she was working with me - from the day I introduced her into cinema. It is not right for me to talk about the judgement. If the character in my story demands Maria, I will work with her. If the story demands for her then I will certainly work with her. There is no connection between art and murder. I have seen her only as an artist and even now I see her only as an artist," said S Govindu, Kannada film director.
Maria has not made her future plans clear, and has kept a low profile after a chaotic press meet in Mumbai that began bizarrely with her lawyer showing a photograph of the murdered Neeraj Grover's body.
But not everybody thinks she should be given a second chance. Another Kannada film director who had a conflict with Maria when she worked for him feels she got away lightly.
"She acted for one of the lead roles in my film which was called 'Okay Sir, okay," about seven years ago. My production manager asked, 'You should come in time to the shoot' and all. All of a sudden she go to the press and she alleged on me stating that Madan Patel is threatening us and we want to pour acid. It was big news in those days. She was not really a very good actress, but in this field to come up they do many things. I was thinking how many pieces they have cut Grover's body - at least that pieces of years they should go behind the bars," said Madan Patel, Kannada film director/producer.
And this is what he had to say on RGV making a movie on Maria's life: "I read it that Ram Gopal Varma wanted to do a film with her. That is his wish, his honour. As a senior director producer in Kannada film industry, I don't think so. In my films I will never take her."
Public memory is short. And both fame and infamy can also be short-lived. Maria herself has not made it clear whether she would re-enter the high-profile world of acting - a move that would probably attract as much curiosity as criticism.