Exclusive! Shane Nigam: After doing Ullasam, I have now gained confidence to pull off such roles

The actor, who is often seen in sombre roles, plays a vibrant character in Jeevan Jojo’s all-out entertainer

Shane Nigam in a still from Ullasam

Over the years, Shane Nigam has become synonymous with playing brooding youngsters who have to undergo turbulent phases in their lives. It’s a testament to his acting skills as to how he has managed to keep each of the characters different despite their similar struggles. But for his latest release Ullasam, the actor will be seen in a vibrant avatar, trying his hand at comedy for the first time in a full-length entertainer.

In an exclusive chat with OTTplay ahead of the film’s release today, the actor talked about why playing the character in Jeevan Jojo’s directorial gave him a sense of confidence to essay similar roles in the future.

“At the start, it was a bit difficult as it was not something I had done before. But over time and by the time we filmed the second half, it got easier,” he says. “The major challenge while doing such films is getting the comedy timing right. Also, entertainers have a pace and you have to perform accordingly.”

Also read: Exclusive! Shane Nigam’s Ullasam will have him in a role filled with joie de vivre: Jeevan Jojo

Shane’s father Abi was a renowned mimicry artiste and an actor. Ask him if he drew references from his father and Shane says, “It’s there in my gene; I had grown up listening to his jokes.” A major takeaway from the role, he says, is that “after doing Ullasam, I have gained confidence” to play similar characters.

This year, Shane had two releases – Bhoothakaalam and Veyil – both of which received positive responses after it dropped on OTTs. The two films also had him playing characters who have to battle inner demons. Ask him about the process of essaying such roles and he says, “I have gone through similar emotions that both the characters travel in the films. I have had similar experiences. But I am still in denial about how it happens. I am sure there is a process but I can’t pinpoint it.”

So, is his real-life personality closer to the characters he played in these two movies or the one in Ullasam? “I am actually in the middle. It also has to do with the mood, which is connected to emotions and that in turn reflects on what is happening in a person’s life,” he says.

The actor also explains that he is delighted by the reception that both Bhoothakaalam (Sony LIV) and Veyil (Amazon Prime Video) got, especially as they were his releases after a spate of controversies. “It’s something I wished for because I was coming out with films after a gap of two years. I am delighted that both movies got good feedback,” he says.

On his take about the OTT vs theatre debate, the young actor says, “I believe a movie like Veyil would have been better as an OTT watch in the current situation. People now watch films in high resolution and big screens that have similar quality as theatres. So, I don’t think the essence of a movie is lost when you are watching it at home. Otherwise, a movie like Bhoothakaalam wouldn’t have got the response it did after it was released on OTT.”

That said, the actor clarifies that some movies demand theatrical experience. “Eventually, both platforms entertain the audience; the only difference is the business side of it. But you won’t be able to enjoy a movie like RRR and KGF as much on an OTT platform. So, you have to take that into account too.”

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