Jyotika says Kaathal The Core was an eye-opener for her; declares Mammootty a true hero among all South Indian superstars

Meanwhile, Jyotika, during Film Companion Actors’ Adda recently, opened up about the film and shared insights into its intricacies and brilliance, expressing admiration for Mammootty’s bravery in taking on the project.

Highlighting the strength of silence in Kaathal, Jyotika pointed out that silence can convey more than dialogues. She observed, “The chemistry between Mathew and Omana was evident without physical touch. In cinema, we often mistake chemistry for biology,” she quipped, adding, “This was quite an eye-opener since we hardly speak in the film, except for the last scene. Yet, I felt so much chemistry.”

Mentioning that, despite having portrayed numerous housewife characters, the role of Omana in Kaathal offered her a uniquely refreshing experience, Jyotika added: “In every moment, the film was very new and fresh. I think it’s one of the first films on homosexuality that does not show any sex scenes. It explores the feeling behind it and what a family goes through.”

Reflecting on her extensive collaborations with almost all South Indian superstars, Jyotika expressed her belief that Mammootty, however, stands out as the true hero among them.

“On the first day, I went to him and asked how he chose to play this role. He responded by asking, ‘What is a hero? A hero is not someone who hits somebody or does action and romance. A hero is someone who tries different roles and gets into the act of different characters. That’s a real hero.’ I really wanted to applaud him because he had a lot to lose if it didn’t go right. And I think he just went all out,” she said.

Chithha actor Siddharth also lavished praise on Mammootty, highlighting that his film choices in the past two years have been mindbending. “It’s unbelievable what he’s doing — from Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam to Kaathal this year… At his age, the curiosity he has in discovering a new character is unmatched.”