Meet the endearing anti-hero of telly town, Shanavas Shanu

Indran in the serial Seetha is on a transformation mode — from an anti-hero to a likeable guy.

His love for Seetha has had an altering effect on this once stone-hearted villain and it’s no wonder that he is soon becoming more popular than its hero Raman.
Actor Shanavas Shanu who plays Indran onscreen says the negative role has become his identity. In a candid conversation, the hunk talks about his character, the feedback he has been getting and more.

Shedding the shades of grey
I don’t know whether to call it luck or coincidence as my former anti-hero character Rudran in Kumkumapoovu is similar to Seetha’s Indran. Rudran was a quotation gang leader who was set to murder its protagonist Shalini, played by Shelly Kishore. But later the baddie becomes her saviour and marries her.
In Seetha, Indran is also in a similar transformation stage from a bad guy to someone with a moral compass. The serial is a triangular love story. Indran, who was self-centered and mean, had unrequited love for Seetha (Swasika Vijay), who only had affection for Raman, whom she marries.
Though Indran tried to separate them, he failed and finally gave up. Raman divorces Seetha as he comes to know that he is nearing his death due to an incurable disease.

Raman alleges that Seetha had an affair with Indran, so that she would hate him for the rest of her life. Not knowing the truth, Indran later becomes Seetha’s knight in shining armour and slowly develops affection for her. Thus, his antics change from bad to good which makes me connect my character to Rudran. That said Rudran in Kumkumapoovu was only to appear in 50 episodes initially but due to the positive response of the audience, the character was there till the end.

‘Indran is a model for the society’
Though Indran always longed for Seetha passionately, his feelings for her was sincere. He never tortured or abused her to get her in his life. He always respected her and didn’t let his ego get the better of him when she rejected his proposals. Nowadays we hear a lot of atrocities happening to women in our society. Many ill treat the woman who spurn their love proposals whereas Indran is a man who respects the woman who rejected him. One should respect a woman’s decisions and her body. Being a man, one should respect a woman than harm her. It’s his sincere love for the girl inspite of his macho persona that I like the most about Indran.

The acting journey
I come from an orthodox Muslim family in Manjeri, Malappuram. I have loved acting since childhood and have always been in forefront for school plays. Cinema was always my dream and I even travelled to Thiruvananthapuram for an audition during Class 9. My ummachi supported me to fulfil my acting dream and for that she even gave me her gold bangles to sell to travel to Chennai. Kumkumapoovu was my first serial that made me popular and then came Seetha.

What Next?
I have completed a script for a film and it’s titled Gambling. The story is relevant in today’s world. I am on the lookout for a good director and a producer, which will be a dream come true for me. I have also signed a movie titled Police Junior, which will hit the theatres next month. I am waiting for a character role that will help establish me in tinsel town.