Mahima Nambiar expresses confidence in RDX delivering explosive impact on screen; commends Shane Nigam’s acting prowess as ‘very natural’

As the film, helmed by debutant Nahas Hidayath, prepares to hit theatres on August 25, coinciding with Dulquer Salmaan’s King of Kotha, the anticipation has surged even more. The recently released trailer also promises an action-packed entertainer spanning several years.

Now, actor Mahima Nambiar, who plays a key role in the movie, has provided more insights about the action thriller, intensifying the excitement even further.

Mentioning that the film’s title, RDX, itself piqued her interest due to its explosive connotation, Mahima said that she readily agreed to be part of the film shortly after the commencement of the script’s narration to her. “I was confident that the film would ignite an explosive impact on the screen when it graces theatres,” Mahima tells The Indian Express.

On coming aboard RDX

When asked what prompted her to accept the film, Mahima explains, “The narration was captivating, and the way my character was developed fascinated me. It wasn’t just my role; all the characters in RDX undergo a transformation as the story unfolds across two time periods: the 90s and the present. This gave me confidence that my character would undergo growth, transformation, and various other developments.”

“Moreover, being involved in a movie bankrolled by Weekend Blockbusters holds significant value for me, particularly considering that this marks their subsequent project after Minnal Murali. In retrospect, I realise there were numerous factors motivating my decision to join the film, including the stunt choreographers Anbariv masters, the skilled technicians, and the entire cast and crew. The film features notable and skilled talents, and I’m content with my choice to be a part of it,” she adds.

‘The very first scene I shot with Shane Nigam was very intense’

While commending Shane Nigam, her co-star and on-screen romantic partner, Mahima also admitted that she initially felt scared during the filming process due to Shane’s fame as an outstanding acting talent.

“That fear was there in my mind when I first began working on RDX. Shane is renowned for his innate ability to portray emotions, reactions, and everything else in a natural way. His acting is very natural. The very first scene I shot with Shane was very intense. I recall that, during its filming, the entire crew, including the producers, were present, observing my performance to gauge how I would measure up to Shane’s energy and level of performance. I feel that I have learned a lot from Shane by observing his acting and grounded style, and how effortlessly natural it appears. My experience working with him has been immensely enlightening,” Mahima says.

Diving deeper into her collaboration with Pepe and Neeraj, she shares, “While I share more screen time with Shane than with Pepe and Neeraj, the latter two were incredibly affable and cool on the sets. In my past Tamil projects, the actors I worked with were a bit more mature than me. Hence, it was a fun experience collaborating with actors of my own age and from this generation.”

‘Director Nahas Hidayath is a genius’

Praising director Nahas Hidayath as an exceptionally talented genius, Mahima comments, “The trailer itself reflects his remarkable abilities. He knows exactly what he wants and how he wants things and also how to extract these things from an actor.”

Bringing up the fact that Nahas had approached her previously for a different project he was developing named Aaravam, where Pepe was supposed to essay the lead role, Mahima says, “During that period, I was quite occupied with other projects, so I couldn’t commit to it. When he initiated this project, I might have been his first preference, leading him to contact me immediately. I’m genuinely pleased that he reached out.”

“Nahas’ filmmaking approach is very captivating as he improves various elements just before filming or on the set, especially when it comes to guiding actors in their dialogue delivery and character portrayal. As previously stated, my character experiences a transformation in the film. Nahas displayed a distinct clarity even in the character’s mannerisms — how they walk, talk, and sit. He demonstrated particular attention to the character’s evolution and how to effectively translate it to the screen. All of these factors greatly contributed to my performance,” Mahima states.

In addition to the four actors, the cast of RDX includes Lal, Babu Antony, Aima Rosmy Sebastian, Maala Parvathi, and Baiju in key roles. The cinematography for RDX has been managed by Alex J Pulickal, renowned for films such as Driving Licence and Action Hero Biju, while the editing is overseen by 2018 – Everyone Is A Hero fame Chaman Chakko. The music composition for the film’s tracks is done by Sam CS, who gained recognition for movies like Kaithi, Puriyatha Puthir, and both the Tamil and Hindi versions of Vikram Vedha.