Reason why Siddique told Dhyan Sreenivasan, “I’m still here even after 30 years”

Dhyan Sreenivasan is mostly known for his witty off-screen dialogues, which he delivers especially during interviews and press events.

At the press meet of Dileep’s ‘Prince and Family’, a playful jab by actor Dhyan Sreenivasan took a thoughtful turn when veteran actor Siddique responded with a powerful statement on his work ethic and longevity in the film industry.

As reported by On Manorama, during the event, Dhyan light-heartedly remarked that Siddique and Dileep would often brainstorm quirky improvisations for their scenes, only to have them turned down by director Binto Stephen moments before shooting. While laughter filled the room at Dhyan’s comment, Siddique took a moment to delve into the deeper philosophy behind his approach to acting.

"Improvisation isn’t limited to just adding humour," Siddique explained. "Whenever I get a scene, I try to enrich it — to shape the character with more depth, personality, and subtlety. It’s never about overriding the director or writer. In fact, Dileep and I often explore these ideas together, and the director is usually involved in that process. It’s always a team effort."

He also clarified that, unlike what Dhyan assumed, the director and writer never asked them to refrain from improvising. "I’m not sure how Dhyan got the idea that we were told to stop — because that never happened," he added.

Siddique concluded with a powerful reminder of his lasting presence in the industry: “While the director and writer juggle countless responsibilities, I have just one — to do justice to my role. That’s why I never stop at what’s written. And Dhyan, that’s precisely why I’m still here, even after thirty or forty years.”

Directed by debutant Binto Stephen, ‘Prince and Family’ is the 150th film of actor Dileep. The movie is receiving decent reviews from the audience as compared to the actor’s recent films, which were underwhelming.