Unni Mukundan shares the initial look of his character in Meppadiyan, featuring a leaner Jayakrishnan

If Meppadiyan had happened before the pandemic, it would have had its protagonist in a much leaner and meaner avatar. The film’s lead actor and producer Unni Mukundan took to his social media page to share the initial look that he and its director Vishnu Mohan had agreed on when the latter first pitched the script and he had greenlit the project.

The look had Unni in a much-thinner version spotting shorter hair but a meaner beard. The movie, which was set to go on floors in March 2020, was halted due to the pandemic lockdown and shoot began only after the first lockdown.

Also read: Exclusive! Unni Mukundan: When people call me the torch-bearer of fitness in Malayalam, I accept it 

By then the actor had decided to put on weight for his character. He had in fact put on almost 13kilos and weighed 93kg during the shoot of Meppadiyan as opposed to his current weight of about 75kg. In an earlier interview with us, the actor said that he was at the heaviest during the lockdown and was also mentally pre-occupied. However, he was confident that he could pull off the look in this avatar. On his social media post too, the actor reiterated this saying that the change in him was organic from all the waiting to begin the project.

Soon after his post, fans too commented that they liked the version they saw on screen better as it was apt for the film’s storyline that revolved around a common man who has to face a series of hurdles in his life after he gets entangled in a property deal.

Meanwhile, Unni, who was last seen in Jeethu Joseph’s 12th Man, is currently busy with his second production venture Shefeekkinte Santosham, which is directed by Anoop Pandalam. The comedy entertainer, which also has him sharing screen space with his father, also has Divya Pillai and Athmiya Rajan as part of its cast. The actor also has Samantha’s Yashoda coming up for release.