I detach myself from a film once the shoot is over

Aju Varghese calls himself a lazy fellow, but ironically, every director today seems to want a piece of him, and he has his hands full these days.
It has even been said that some of the recent superhit films in Malayalam owe their success to him, rather than to the big stars in them. But Aju pooh-poohs all such reports, while revealing that he never wanted to be an actor in the first place.In conversation with the most promising comedian of Malayalam today:
Your character in Boban Samuel’s film is called Major Ravi? How was it working in the movie?
Actually he is Major ‘E’ Ravi, an army man who is interested in Amala Paul’s character. Only Boban Samuel knows why he was named thus! Ever since I watched Romans, I had wanted to work with Boban and I told him so too. The crew is entirely new to me; there were none from my usual gang of friends. Most of my combination scenes were with Suraj Venjaramoodu. He has always supported me personally as well as professionally. He has no need to do it but he is someone who genuinely wants me to make the right choices.
You are working with Ranjith Sankar again, for 'Pretham'…
Yes, I play one of the three bachelor friends in the film, the other actors being Govind Padmasoorya and Sharaf. In the film, we were college friends, and now own a resort together. Jayasurya’s character enters our lives, and things change. The film is all about fun and friendship, with a touch of horror. Like all of Ranjith’s films, this too is an experiment.
The specialty of Ranjith is that there is no confusion or communication gaps whatsoever when working with him. If you put up a poor performance, he will tell it to your face. If you do well too, he will point it out. I like that bluntness, and find it very helpful as an actor. And that’s the reason why I keep going back to him.
And I have to say, I find him the coolest among all the directors I have worked with. Whatever the situation, he remains unruffled. Once we were shooting a hartal scene in Punyalan Agarbattis. The ‘anapindam’ hadn’t arrived, nothing was going right and there was total chaos. And then I saw Ranjith sitting there, relaxed. I asked him why he wasn’t stressed and his reply was, ‘What’s the use of me getting worried?’
Funnily, after all this, he finishes all his films within 27 days!
How crucial is that for a film?
Very important. When a filmmaker does that while retaining the production value, he is minimising the risk for the producer. Vineeth Sreenivasan is another such director who finishes his films faster than in the original plan. The success or failure of a film is not in our hands, and all we can do is minimise the cost as much as possible. And if a film is well planned, it can really be finished within 25 days, as these filmmakers have proved. I think Pretham will get over in 23 days!
Is there any film which you expected to be a success but wasn’t one?
Kili Poyi. I thought it would be a hit but it was an average film at the box office, although it was discussed after it left theatres. And that was when I started detaching myself from the outcome of a film. My policy now is: until pack-up day, shoot with full sincerity. Do the dubbing well and be a part of the marketing of the film. Your job is over, now detach yourself.
Is that why you always make the best use of your social networking sites to support films?
With regard to my own films, I feel it’s part of my job to support them. If at least one person goes to the theatre or if the producer gets one rupee because I did it, I would say it’s worth it. As for the rest, I have often been asked why I supported a particular film or actor on social networking sites. I wish to tell them; it’s my wall and my choices! Whether it is a piece of art, a picture, an actor, a trailer of my own film or someone else’s film, I just share whatever I personally like. I have no allegiances whatsoever, and am a fan of every good actor, rather, of their performances.
It is often said about some of your films that they belong to you and not to the big stars in them…
I don’t think so. People come to theatres because of the big stars in a film. They might have liked my character more, but I would never ever say a film was a hit because of me. In fact, a film’s success never belongs to any one person, it belongs to the entire team; every department contributes to it with their creativity and co-operation.
You recently turned assistant director to Vineeth Sreenivasan… Any plans to direct a film?
It’s true that my dream to assist a director was realised with Jacobinte Swargarajyam. To be honest, I never wanted to become an actor. Acting just happened. But it was only when I stepped into the shoes of an assistant director that I realised how tedious a job it is. It’s a huge responsibility, not meant for a lazy fellow like me.
You never wanted to be an actor?
No, I hadn’t even acted in a play in school or college. But I idolised Sreenivasan, Priyadarshan and Padmarajan in college. I have been amazed at how easily the humour works in Priyadarshan’s films and had a lot of questions which I wanted to ask him at some point. And that too came true recently, when I was invited to do a small role in his film Oppam.
And how was it to finally meet Priyadarshan?
My role in Oppam is small, that of an auto driver. But finally I was acting in a Priyadarshan film! Every moment of the shoot was a fanboy moment for me, and during breaks I was able to slip in my questions to him.
However, Oppam is a thriller and not a ‘Priyadarshan comedy’. Next time, you can let me act in a comedy, I told him. My combination scenes were with Mohanlal and Samuthirakani. If I start talking about Mohanlal, this interview will never get over (laughs).
So you seem to be a director’s actor…
Yes. It doesn’t matter who is acting in a film, the one who should make me comfortable in a film is the director. I interact the most with the director and it is his confidence which drives me. My performance will always be according to his directions. Only he knows the larger picture and so he has to tell me how my character should behave, walk and deliver dialogues. I just close my eyes and trust him.
What else is coming up?
There is Kochauva Paulo Ayyappa Koylo, a feel-good film for which I have to thank its director Sidhartha Siva. I have a friend’s role but for me it’s the adrenaline rush that matters, not the length of the role. Likewise, in Welcome to Central Jail, I play a friend to Dileep’s character, who meets him whenever he gets out of jail. I feel you learn something when you act alongside big actors.
Ore Mugham is a thriller with a non-linear narrative. It revolves around an 80s college batch and then cuts across to the present. All these are different genres. Work is still on for Avarude Ravukal and Adventures of Omanakkuttan.
I’m also doing a film directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. Sunny Wayne and Baby Sara of Daviathirumagal fame play the leads. I have always been excited by Midhun’s style of writing and characterisation. Mine is a small role, but it’s a cute film, and I sincerely wish the best for it. I always hold such small films with small budgets closer to my heart. I wish for them to succeed more than all other films.