Exclusive! Ajmal Amir: After Ko, people noticed me the most in Nayanthara’s Netrikann due to the reach of OTTs

Despite making his debut in 2007, Ajmal Amir is one of those actors who had decided right from the outset that he will be selective. While that strategy hasn’t quite worked as much as he would have liked, he has ensured that he made the most of the roles that did come his way. His most recent outing as the antagonist in Nayanthara’s Netrikann, which released on Disney+ Hotstar is proof enough.

The actor, in an exclusive interview with OTTplay, tells us that he now wants to do “back-to-back” projects and the slew of films he has lined up that includes Alphonse Puthren’s Gold starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Nayanthara, the horror-thriller Kshanam, a cameo in Mysskin’s Pisaasu 2 and an anthology Eeyal should hold him in good stead. In conversation with the Ko and Anjathe actor.

What can you tell us about working with director Suresh Unnithan for your upcoming theatrical release Kshanam?

He’s a director who has given a lot of hits in Malayalam. He has his own signature style and his movies such as Jathakam are still etched in our minds. His previous movie Ayaal had won a State Award in 2013 and I believe Kshanam will mark his comeback in a strong way. He is a passionate filmmaker; if he begins shooting at 7am, he would only go back home at 10pm and then would be preparing for the next day’s shoot with the cinematographer till 2:30am. So, for Kshanam, he has put in a lot of hard work and effort. When he told me about the character, I liked it even though it was a small role. That’s how I became part of the movie.

Last year, you had also shot for your brother Askar Amir’s film Eeyal. What’s its current status?

Eeyal is an anthology of four films. I am part of two of these segments. We have completed three movies and we hope to shoot the final one next month. We want the pandemic situation to abate before filming that. Right now, we have finished the editing of the other segments that we had shot, and it has come out really well. Once we complete the last featurette, we are sure it will maintain the same quality.

The anthology has an underlying theme, but I believe the director would be the best to reveal that. Apart from me, Eeyal also has Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Meenakshi, Merin Philip and Parvathy Menon.

Your previous project Netrikann, which had Nayanthara in the lead, had a direct-to-OTT release.

I had actually earlier acted in a Hotstar series named White Matter, which also had Isha Koppikar and Nassar sir. Netrikann wasn’t meant for an OTT release but considering the pandemic situation, we thought it was best for people to watch a quality film within the comfort of their homes.

You and Nayanthara are also part of Alphonse Puthren’s Gold, which has Prithviraj Sukumaran too. What can you tell us about working in the movie?

Gold has a unique genre. We have seen it in a lot of English films, but it’s probably the first time in Malayalam. A lot of big artistes – old and new – are part of the movie. Gold will provide the audience relief from thrillers that we are increasingly being treated to right now.

Incidentally, Alphonse and I are both from Aluva and we have known each other even before we came to the industry. As both of us shared a passion for cinema, he was the one who edited a reel for me that we had shot. I used that to start my career. After that, I introduced him to Mysskin and he worked with him for some time. After that, Alphonse first pitched Neram to me, but due to some reasons I couldn’t do it that time. We did talk about collaborating in other films but that didn’t happen till Gold.

We have just two more days of shoot left for a song. Gold is a full-on, fun-packed film filled with interesting characters and situational comedy. It’s a film that people across age groups will be able to enjoy.

You are an actor who is extremely selective. While it has resulted in some memorable roles, does staying away from the industry for long periods also have its pitfalls?

Frankly, it’s because I don’t have too many options. At the start of my career, I had a lot of offers but I wanted to be part of good films and that’s why I waited. But there are many films with me as lead that failed at the box office or didn’t even release. Not many know about it. (Waiting for films) does have its pitfalls, but we eventually overcome all of that. After Ko, people noticed me again after Netrikann and the film’s reach is not just limited to Tamil Nadu, it was a hit in Andhra states and those in Kerala too have watched it. Right now, I want to sign back-to-back films.

What are your upcoming projects?

I have signed another Malayalam film that will be announced shortly. I will start shooting for that soon.

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