PremiumNesippaya actor Akash Murali Interview: I want to do character-driven stories than massy roles
Debutant actor Akash Murali, son of late veteran actor Murali and brother to actor Atharvaa, is making his first appearance in Nesippaya, a romantic drama, directed by Vishnuvardhan.
Last Updated: 03.31 PM, Jan 11, 2025
For debutant actor Akash Murali, the film industry has not been a distant atmosphere. His father, the late and veteran actor Murali had a career that dealt with noteworthy films. His brother, Atharvaa, is part of exciting line-ups like SK 25 and DNA. But what is in store of Akash? The new face is all set to make his first impression on the audience with Nesippaya, a romantic drama, co-starring Aditi Shankar and helmed by Vishnuvardhan.
“It feels amazing and nice, totally different from what I expected. I was familiar with the sets, and I had gone during childhood to shootings. But when you stand there and face the camera, it is different feeling, a mix of nervousness and excitement,” Akash Murali says.
Nesippaya actor Akash Murali Interview
On the first day on the sets of Nesippaya, debutant actor Akash Murali accepted getting nervous but slowly began to enjoy the process as he began to see the results. “Of course, I want to keep doing this for rest of my life,” the actor says.
Having come from a family of actors, Akash was confident to get launched into the industry, and that was when he was hearing scripts. “I wanted to meet Vishnu sir, because I love his film Pattiyal. So I wanted to have that launch from him, and he is one of my dream directors to work with. It was during the post-production of Shershah, and knew he would be very occupied. So, I thought he is occupied with Hindi, but later, I wanted to meet him. My co-producer Sneha and myself went to meet him in Mumbai. It was a stressful time because he was also working on his film, it was Covid time, but he appeared calm and composed. I think he had come to say no, but later we got a call from him saying he would launch me,” Akash recalls.
After a month, Akash met Vishnuvardhan once again when he was given a choice between two one-liners. One of them was Nesippaya, and he developed the script tailor-made for me. The young actor recalls how Vishnuvardhan eased him into the shooting of the film, and surrendered to him. Even as Akash had taken up the acting classes under Anupam Kher, and underwent certain exercises, he adds how Vishnuvardhan moulds himself to make sure the actors are convenient. “He explains the scene, sometimes acts and shows, clarifies the doubts and gives enough space to act it our way.”
Admitting how he has not cried in life much, Akash says doing it, however, onscreen was a real task. “I don’t know how to cry, and there is a breakdown scene. I think we went with 4-5 takes, but the first take is what will be there in the film, I guess. One more thing is that my character, Arjun, is energetic, while I am more silent. So that was another thing I had to adapt. Arjun is impulsive and doesn’t think twice, whereas I am an overthinker in reality,” he adds.
‘My major learning in Nesippaya is unexplainable’
With Nesippaya being his debut film, Akash is in search of words to pin down his lessons. “Every aspect was different for me, and new. I was very conscious not to overact, but luckily, I was told that I act subtly.” Akash says how Arjun is still somewhere there inside him, and it is hard to let go of his character. “I think I want it to be there. He is full of emotions, and I want to adapt a bit of him in real life as well.”
Akash says that all his career decisions are solely taken by him but takes the advice of his family. “They were really happy when Vishnuvardhan sir is launching me and in fact, asked me not to overthink!”
The actor is currently listening to scripts for his second feature. “I feel my second film will be more important than first, and I am taking my time. I want to do character-driven stories than massy roles. I am open to any genre, and the script takes priority.” Akash reveals even as he watched Nesippaya, he admits to being uncomfortable watching himself onscreen.
Asked what some of Akash’s favourite romance films are, he is quick to answer Vaaranam Aayiram, and if not a tragic one, it would be OK Kanmani. “I like a mixture of films. Asuran is a hard-hitting tragic film that I keep watching again and again,” he signs off, hoping Nesippaya finds a place in everyone’s hearts this Pongal.