We used to run away from newbie directors earlier, but now they make the most brilliant films: Manoj K Jayan

Manoj K Jayan has been one actor who has gone through different phases over the course of his acting career — from supporting actor to hero to villain to comedian.
The actor, however, says he has only taken life as it comes, without consciously making an effort at anything. Manoj, who has a handful of interesting roles coming up, talks to us about his upcoming projects and views on films.
You are part of Bejoy Nambiar’s Solo...
Yes, I play a gangster in it, someone who grooms Dulquer’s character from childhood. He is a nonchalant kind of baddie, who plays music while a murder is happening. Solo is composed of a set of four films, and I appear in one of the segments. All four are different from each other. Shoot is over for two of the segments, two more remain.
You have a very interesting set of films coming up…
I’m glad to say I do. I have Dominic Arun’s Tovino Thomas’s film coming up, where I play a police officer. He is a serious guy but he appears comical to others. There is also Prithviraj and Parvathy starrer My Story, which is partly shot in Portugal. The film is about the story of a film crew which arrives at a location, and Prithvi and Parvathy are actors in that film. I’m the director, who is like a mentor to Prithviraj. One schedule is over, we might return to Portugal for the next. I’m awaiting the release of Zachariya Pothen Jeevichirippundu, which has Lal and I in important roles.
In Vilakkumaram too I have an important character, as the warden of a school for juvenile delinquents. He is a retired army man, and is very strict. I’m also part of Bhavana’s brother Jayadevan’s debut directorial in Tamil, Pattinappakkam. My character is that of a rich guy but with a lot of complexes.
So what makes you pick a film?
I don’t take everything that comes my way. Earlier we used to run away if we were told the director is a newbie but not anymore. We would do a film only if the director was someone like Sathyan Anthikad, Kamal, Jayaraj, Joshiy etc. But nowadays there are brilliant directors among the newcomers. We would be even more interested if the director is new, because they come to the industry after observing and learning everything about movies.
You have been part of some really intense movies… Do you miss doing such roles?
Films of such intensity are not being made these days – which talk about the deep bonds between parents and children, guru and shishya etc. There is no value for relationships in real life and a film like Venkalam or Sargam might not work today. The new generation is more focused on friendships, rather. But it is not right to be obstinate about doing only the old kind of roles. Whatever is good and has scope to perform, I will commit to.
Ever considered playing a hero again?
I did do hero roles and then switched to villain and supporting roles but all of it just happened. I have never lifted my little finger to get a hero’s role. My journey right now is very comfortable for me. I’m not ready for the kind of preparations and focus you need to be a hero. I was never interested in them either.
In a film like Kaliyachan, yes I was the hero but they would be mostly offbeat films. Even when such a film comes up, I ask them, shall I do the other character, which is equally good? They would be amazed and say ‘But you are the hero!’ Someone else might think that ‘I could make this my comeback film as a hero’ but not me.
You must be spending time with family instead?
Home is a lot of fun these days, my son Amrith is four now. I’m going through the same emotions I went through when Kunjatta was a baby. I’m enjoying my life as a dad, yes.