PremiumKalabhavan Shajohn was offered this role initially in Dileep’s Kunjikoonan
Shajohn added that he was never upset about being initially typecast into police roles and that the reason filmmakers chose to cast him in these roles is because they think he is a good fit for them.
Kalabhavan Shajohn | Photo: Instagram/ kalabhavan_shajohn
Last Updated: 09.17 PM, Dec 30, 2023
Actor and mimic Kalabhavan Shajohn revealed that he was asked to play ‘Garudan’ Vasu in the Dileep-starring film Kunjikoonan in an interview with Silly Monks Mollywood. Sai Kumar later took on the role of the character. "For some reason, the chance went away. “That being said, I was glad to see Sai Kumar in the part. Sai Kumar was the only actor who could have done that part justice,” the actor stated.
He made these statements while speaking in the interview promoting his upcoming film, Aattam, which is all set to hit theatres on January 5.
Shajohn said he was never upset about being initially typecast into police roles and that the reason filmmakers chose to cast him in these roles is because they think he is a good fit for them. The actor continued by saying that, despite his status as a mimic, he had never been turned down for any opportunity in the film industry.
He went on to say that he had often been amazed by the acting prowess of Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Dileep, and that their encouragement had enabled him to grow as an actor and secure new roles in movies. "Even collaborating with young filmmakers and artists has taught me a lot," he commented.
Shajohn, who has acted in over 140 Malayalam films in a span of 25 years, made his directorial debut with Brother’s Day, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Prayaga Martin, Prasanna, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Vijayaraghavan, in 2019.
The actor acknowledged in the interview that filmmaking is a challenging subject but expressed a desire to continue making films because he finds the creative process enjoyable. This year, he played prominent roles in Kaipola, Santhosham, Bandra, and Nadhikalil Sundari Yamuna.
Anand Ekarshi’s Aattam
Film enthusiasts have shown a great deal of appreciation for Aattam, which features Vinay Forrt, Kalabhavan Shajohn, and Zarin Shihab in the lead roles at various film festivals. The movie also won the Best Malayalam Film Award at the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala.