Dulquer Salman is clearly out of his father’s shadows.
In his two years of acting and with 11 films to his credit, legendary Malayalam actor Mammootty’s son has revealed a versatility that can be credited to his genes.
Be it playing a small town, unscrupulous criminal in his debut Second Show or a spoilt NRI (non-resident Indian) brat in American Born Confused Desi, or as Arjun, the motor bike-racing angry man in Bangalore Days (his last release), Salman has created his own niche.
He explores yet another character in Lal Jose’s Vikramadithyan, out in the UAE this week.
“I play Adithyan who is slightly notorious in nature and has a tendency to get influenced by the wrong people,” says Salman.
Having known Lal Jose for a long time, it was more like a family, he adds. “Lal Jose had a clear picture of what he wanted for my portrayal of Adithyan and after several discussions, we decided on his look and characterisation.
“It has been wonderful and a great learning experience. Everything was planned to the tee and scripted, including shooting song sequences. Lal Jose is a master with regard to shooting songs. That was something I thoroughly enjoyed.”
Unni Mukundan, his co-star, did a cameo in Salman’s third film, Theevram. The two have been good friends since.
“I enjoy working with all my co-actors and end up getting close to everyone. So all such friendships you see onscreen are real and not merely acting,” says Salman.
Painfully shy as a child, the heartthrob took a while to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“I still deal with stage fright but it gets easier as one does more films. However, the fear and pangs are always there. It’s what pushes me to try harder and not slack,” he says.
Salman has just wrapped up another Malayalam film directed by Ranjit. “It’s a biopic and my first at that, probably my most challenging role yet,” he adds.
Meet the other stars of ‘Vikramadithyan’
Unni Mukundan as ‘Vikram’
His debut film Seedan in Tamil was a flop, but Unni Mukundan proved his critics wrong with his next film, Bombay March 12, in Malayalam, the directorial debut of scriptwriter Babu Janardhanan.
As the goodlooking and young Shah Jahan caught in a web of terrorist activities, Mukundan won the audience’s hearts and walked away with the 2011 Asianet Film Award and SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actor.
In Vikramadithyan, he plays Vikram Shenoy, a police officer’s son, who aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps. Anoop Menon is his onscreen father, Vasudevan Shenoy.
“Vikram is someone who is precise about his goals in life. He is a perfectionist and very focused on his dreams. Yet, this disciplined guy has a soft heart. Vikram is that guy every girl would love to take home to her mother,” he says.
Besides beefing up for the role, Mukundan also sported a moustache, a first-time experience in the life of the actor who grew up in Ahmedabad.
“Vikram is a lot like me and I loved bringing him onscreen,” he adds. “Working in a Lal Jose film was a dream come true and sharing screen space with Dulquer Salman a great pleasure.”
Mukundan first entered the film industry as an assistant to director Lohitadas. Next up is a film with Mammootty in Rajadhi Raja, where he plays a guest role. He will soon start shooting for Enthoru Bhagyam in Malayalam opposite Nikki Galrani and will don the police uniform once again for Malayalam director Dipan’s next film Puthu Mugam.
Mukundan is currently basking in the compliments post Vikramadithyan.
“It has been mind- blowing with people telling me that it’s the best from me as an actor. And many directors appreciated my work. It’s been wonderful.”
Namitha Pramod as Deepika
“I play a Konkani girl. She is a bubbly and an emotional girl,” says Namitha Pramod of her role in Vikramadithyan.
Pramod has earlier worked with the film’s director Lal Jose in Pullipulikalam Aattinkuttiyum opposite Kunchako Boban. A child actor, she entered television first before doing the much-acclaimed Malayalam film Traffic. She was studying in Class 9 then and played the onscreen daughter of Rahman and Lena.
With Sathyan Anthikad’s Puthiya Theerangal, Pramod turned heroine, winning the Amrita TV Film award for New Face of the Year.
Pursuing a degree in sociology, Pramod is currently juggling two films: She is working with Dileep in Villali Veeran directed by debutant Sudheesh Sankar and opposite Vineeth Srinivasan in Ormayundo Ee Mugham.
