Fahadh Faasil who entered Malayalam cinema with Kaiyethum Doorath, initially faced criticism due to the movie’s failure and the weight of being director Fazil’s son. However, his comeback redefined him as one of the finest actors in Malayalam cinema. Today, Fahadh is a sought-after actor across multiple languages, earning accolades for his performances in films like Vikram, Pushpa, and the recent Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer.
In a recent discussion, Fahadh revealed how deeply Mammootty and Mohanlal have influenced him as an actor. He stated that the roles portrayed by these stalwarts in the 90s continue to astonish audiences even today. Highlighting Mammootty’s role in New Delhi and Mohanlal’s performance in Thoovanathumbikal, Fahadh remarked, “I don’t think anyone else could have played those roles. Some stories require specific actors to bring them to life. I often wonder if anyone apart from Mammukka could have done justice to a film like New Delhi. Similarly, it’s impossible to imagine anyone else as Mohanlal in Thoovanathumbikal. Turning a film into their own with an extraordinary performance is what they have consistently done best.”
Fahadh also acknowledged the global impact of actors like Robert De Niro and Al Pacino on his generation of actors, while emphasizing the timeless brilliance of Mammootty and Mohanlal in the 80s and 90s On a related note, Fahadh’s comments about Pushpa have resurfaced amidst the ongoing discussions about the success of Pushpa 2. In an earlier interview, Fahadh had candidly shared his thoughts:
“I don’t think I achieved anything significant with Pushpa. I had even told this to director Sukumar sir. I feel there’s no need to hide this—I’m just being honest. This isn’t to disrespect anyone’s work; it’s simply my perspective on what I contributed.” Fahadh added, “I did the film purely out of my admiration and love for Sukumar sir, and that’s it. I’m not sure if people expected some sort of magic from me in Pushpa.”Now, Fahadh’s reflections on Mammootty and Mohanlal are the talk of the town, further cementing his respect for these legendary actors.
