Jayaram, not Mohanlal, in Joshiy’s 'Kashmir'

In a candid chat, actor Jayaram, who’s celebrating his 25th year in the industry, speaks about the ebbs and flows in his career, decisions that have been crucial to his standing as an actor and more…
It’s his silver jubilee year in the film industry and actor Jayaram has more reason than one to rejoice. The mimicry artist, who debuted in films with Padmarajan’s Aparan in 1988, went on to be the most popular actor in his heyday, before a wrong choice of films changed the equations.Now in his 25th year in the industry, the actor is a content man, with big-budget commercial films — the latest in the list being filmmaker Joshiy’s next, Kashmir, and performance-oriented films like Shaji N Karun’s Sopanam coming his way. Excerpts:
Rumours are rife about your teaming up with Mohanlal in Joshiy’s Kashmir. What’s the current status?
I’ve been signed on to play the central character in Kashmir, which is set against a military backdrop. This is the first time I’ll be doing a full-length military role in Malayalam, though my Kollywood outing last year, Thuppakki, had me play an army captain. Kashmir starts rolling next month, and the shoot will happen in both Kashmir and Kerala. The film gives prominence to action and humour. The last time I worked with Joshiy was in Twenty:20.
You were the most popular actor in the industry before you starred in a handful of films that didn’t fare well at the BO. Are you consciously going choosy now?
I never knew to say ‘No’ to anyone who approached me with a film. That reflected in a string of flops in my career. Yes... it cost me dear. But now, I’m choosing every film with caution, and I’m no more hesitant to say ‘No’ to projects that don’t appeal to me. Maybe that will lead to my name being scrapped from their good books, but I feel it’s better than signing up for such films.
So you’re mostly eyeing commercial projects?
Not really. I’ve just been signed on to play one of the most prestigious projects in my career. Shaji N Karun’s Sopanam will have me playing a chenda artiste (Jayaram himself is a trained percussion artiste). After that, I’ll play the lead in director Kamal’s next after Celluloid, which will be a pucca commercial entertainer. My choice of films has hardly anything to do with their commercial and non-commercial aspect. My primary concern is not to fall a prey to repetition.
It’s busy days for you again in M-Town and you seem to be fast regaining lost ground…
Fortunately, being choosy hasn’t resulted in a dearth of good films coming my way. Right now, I’m filming Akku Akbar’s Bharya Athra Pora in Thrissur. The film has the Veruthe Oru Bharya team coming together again and, just as in that film, this one also has situations that the common man can easily identify with. Deepu Anthikkad’s Lucky Star, which deals with surrogate motherhood, will also be a different experience for Malayalam cinema. Deepu, with his background in the advertising field, approaches the subject in a novel style, avoiding melodrama. Sathyan Anthikkad is one director with whom I’ve given the most number of hits in my career. Deepu, his nephew, is the latest from the family with whom I’m working with. It’s indeed a great feeling to work with two generations of filmmakers from the same family.
What's happening with the Hindi remake of Thuppakki, which will also mark your Bollywood debut?
Nothing concrete has happened on that front. I'm yet to sign on the film.