PremiumExclusive! Fahadh Faasil on Vikram, Pushpa: I don’t think any of my films actually help me do another movie
The Malayankunju actor talks about the success of Vikram, Pushpa and his fanbase that has expanded since the pandemic
Last Updated: 07.29 AM, Jul 23, 2022
No other actor has arguably expanded his fanbase as much as Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil since the pandemic. In the past two years, Fahadh has starred in several OTT hits including C U Soon and Joji as well as been part of blockbusters such as Allu Arjun’s Pushpa and Kamal Haasan’s Vikram. Despite filmmakers and artistes across the country vying with each other to work with the actor, Fahadh says that his priority is Malayalam cinema.
In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, Fahadh addressed the pan-Indian attention that his films have gained over the years. “I am happy with the recognition for the good films I do,” he says.
“But for me, what is important is that Malayalis watch my films because I clearly make movies for them. My movies are totally from here – the emotions and everything. So, it’s important that people at home watch my films.”
Ask him if the expanding popularity across India as well as his brand name now helps him make the kind of films that he wants in Malayalam and the Joji actor says, “Absolutely not. I don’t think any of my films actually help me do another movie. In the sense that my narrative has never been about my previous film or my filmography. I have only worked in films that have excited me.”
Bring up the success of his theatrical releases – Pushpa (Telugu) and Vikram (Tamil) – and what attracted him to these projects, Fahadh says, “Primarily, I think these are all friends with whom I have been talking with for a long time. (Directors) Lokesh (Kanagaraj) and Suku (Sukumar) sir came up with things that I could do. So, things just fell into place. But my films happen here in Malayalam.”
Fahadh’s latest release Malayankunju, which revolves around a man trapped underground after a landslide, hit theatres on July 22. The movie, helmed by Sajimon Prabhakar, is scripted by C U Soon director Mahesh Narayanan, who is also its cinematographer. The film marks the comeback of ace composer AR Rahman to Malayalam cinema after a gap of 30 years.