PremiumDabba Cartel actress Nimisha Sajayan on working with Fahadh Faasil in her debut movie - ‘Never made me feel like a…’ | Exclusive
In a recent chat with OTTplay, Nimisha Sajayan spoke about working with the likes of Fahadh Faasil in her very first movie, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum.
Last Updated: 04.33 PM, Mar 29, 2025
Nimisha Sajayan has now made a mark in the Hindi industry with her portrayal of Mala in Dabba Cartel, after proving her mettle in Malayalam and Tamil cinema. In an exclusive chat with OTTplay recently, Nimisha spoke about working with the likes of Fahadh Faasil in her very first movie Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, which fetched FaFa the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Recalling acting with Fahadh and Suraj Venjaramoodu in the 2017 Malayalam movie, Nimisha said the noted actors never made her feel like a newcomer.
Nimisha Sajayan on working with Fahadh Faasil in Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum
Nimisha made a stellar debut alongside Fahadh Faasil and Suraj Venjaramoodu in Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, directed by Dileesh Pothan. Though a Malayali, Nimisha was born and brought up in Mumbai and was not very fluent in Malayalam back then.
Talking about how she landed her debut movie, a buoyant Nimisha said that the casting call for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, sought women in the age group of 25-30. “When I went for the audition, I was 19. I looked like a Naadan Malayali (typical Malayali) but when I started talking, they were like ‘are you not a Malayali’? But I still got the role.”
After her debut movie, Nimisha again collaborated with Suraj Venjaramoodu and Fahadh Faasil in movies such as the acclaimed The Great Indian Kitchen and Malik, respectively. Ask her if there was a difference in performing with the stars in her debut movie and the later roles, Nimisha said, “I am still a newcomer. Before every film, I am really nervous and anxious. For me, every project is my first project.
"I am a huge huge Fahadh Faasil fan. In Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, I felt just like watching his performance and for Malik also, it has been the same. I am still learning from Fahadh. So I can never think like that. I am still a learner. Both Suraj and Fahadh have been in the industry for so many years. The first film, and after that, it was the same for me working with them. Maybe also because they made me very comfortable and never made me feel like a newcomer in the first film, and so I did not feel much of a difference when I did the second film (with them).”
Also read - OTTplay Awards 2025: Dabba Cartel stars Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan reunite; Varuna madam tells Mala - 'Tujhe neeche aake award...'
Nimisha on Naslen, Mamitha Baiju
When asked about making a mark despite being an outsider, Nimisha insisted that she has never felt in Malayalam that way. “Malayalis are very accepting. If you look even now, Naslen, or Mamitha (of Premalu fame), they are all outsiders. And they are the ones who are thriving now. They are getting back-to-back good projects and audiences are also very accepting. That’s the difference here,” she explained.
Nimisha on the directors, she would like to work with
When quizzed about the directors she would like to work with in future, Nimisha said there are many. “I would really like to work with Lijo Jose Pellissery. He creates a world of his own and I really like his films. I want to work with Anurag Kashyap and I even told him that when I met him. Vikramaditya Motwane, Hansal Mehta, Konkona Sen Sharma and many. I also want to do some independent films,” said Nimisha and signed off.