Fahadh Faasil: ‘I don’t think Pushpa has done anything for me….I even tell Sukumar that’

When asked if he knows that he is huge beyond Kerala because of Pushpa, Fahadh Faasil said, “No, I don’t think Pushpa did anything for me. I tell Sukumar sir that. I don’t have to hide it. I have to be honest. I am doing my stuff here. No disrespect to anything. People expect magic from me after Pushpa… no. It’s pure collaboration and love for Sukumar Sir. My stuff is here (Malayalam cinema). Very clearly, my stuff is here. That’s one.”

He added, “Two, it doesn’t get to me because many friends and I here think and believe that Vicky Kaushal is the find of the decade. Rajkumar Rao is one of the finest actors India has ever produced. Ranbir (Kapoor)… I mean… the best actor in the country. So, I don’t know what they see in me. I was surprised that people are following films from here… they are seeing Kumbalangi Nights and Trance. And I kept wondering about the connection and what they are identifying with. Even now I believe it is the art form they are connected to more than the performances or the performers.”

Fahadh added that he is fascinated seeing many non-Malayali families following Malayalam cinema. “So, that is very exciting. For me, I don’t believe that Pushpa would change me or it would take me to another… No, I don’t believe that.”

Fahadh Faasil also dismissed the statement that he is a pan-Indian actor. “No. I am just an actor here. I have nothing to do with pan-India and whatever. I just do things that I believe in. The film should do business, that’s secondary. But the film that I do here… I mean I can never do it anywhere else. I can easily set up a film in Tamil, but everything will fall into place except the idea. I assume that will be the case in Hindi as well.”

Fahadh revealed that Karan Johar calls him after watching his movies and also talks about specific scenes. Vicky Kaushal and Rajkumar Rao also frequently discuss films with him. “I like that pan-India. I love that bonding. Nothing beyond that.”