Kalyani Priyadarshan on Fahadh Faasil: ‘He’s insecure enough to keep pushing himself’ | Exclusive

This Onam is special for Kalyani Priyadarshan as she stars in two much-anticipated festive releases - Dominic Arun’s Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, with Naslen, and Althaf Salim’s Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira, with Fahadh Faasil as her co-star. While one is a superhero fantasy thriller, the latter is a romcom, which falls within her comfort zone, the actress tells OTTplay.

On working with actors such as Fahadh and Vinay Forrt in the comedy, which is set for a release on August 29, Kalyani says, “It was absolutely great. I sometimes tend to restrain myself, because I worry about what other people would say. But watching them perform, you get to see how uninhibited they are despite having the legacy of all their previous films. So, you tend to think, ‘If they can do it, why aren’t you exploring as well?’”

‘Actors’ greatest strengths are their self confidence and insecurity’

Having been part of the film industry for seven years now and worked in several languages - with big upcoming releases this Onam as well as films such as Ravi Mohan’s Genie and Karthi’s Marshal lined up, ask Kalyani if she finally feel like she is not weighed down by the legacy of her parents - Priyadarshan and Lissy, and believe that this is where she belongs, and she says, “I don’t think I will ever think that.”

Also read: Kalyani Priyadarshan on Dulquer Salmaan’s advice for Lokah: The reason we are in cinema is to take risks | Exclusive 

The Thallumaala actress, however, explains that she has made peace with that. “I believe an actor’s greatest strengths are their self confidence and insecurity. They have to be incredibly self confident and incredibly insecure; that’s what makes one a great actor. I have nailed it on insecurity, but I still have some way to go on the self confidence front. I have seen this in Fahadh as well. He is confident about what he does, but he is also just insecure enough to constantly want to push himself.”

The past year had her juggling the shoots of Lokah and Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira. “Both had me doing completely different characters — one is over the top and other in Lokah is restrained”, she says. “Forget frowning, I wasn’t even allowed to blink in Lokah. My first shoot for Odum Kuthira… was actually funny because I was a little restrained and inhibited. You have this thought that even though the meter requires you to be slightly exaggerated in your performance, you are thinking that people wouldn’t understand that and troll you for that. So, I was holding back,” she explains.

‘I was completely unhinged in the second schedule of Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira’

However, in the next schedule of the film, Kalyani remarks she just “let it go”. “Imagine someone was completely tied and then was let loose. I think there was a part of me that was completely unhinged and everyone saw that difference in my performance as well,” the actress says.

FAQs

Q. Who is the directed of Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira?

A. Actor-director Althaf Salim has directed Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Fahadh Faasil. His previous directorial was Njandukalude Naattil Oridavela. 

Q. What is the plot of Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira?

A. According to the plot submitted during the CBFC screening, the movie revolves around what happens when its protagonist Abi arrives on a horseback on his wedding day and the events that happen after the horse is startled by the camera flash. 

Q. What is the cast of Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira?

A. Fahadh Faasil, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Lal, Vinay Forrt and Idavela Babu are part of the cast of Althaf Salim's Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira, which will release in theatres on August 29, 2025.