Why Venkatesh refused to recreate Mohanlal’s expression in Telugu Drishyam’s climax: ‘I can’t do that’

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Esther Anil recalls ‘painful shot’ in Drishyam

However, young actor Esther Anil’s recent remarks on Mohanlal’s performance in Drishyam, along with Telugu superstar Daggubati Venkatesh’s observation on it, further underscore the Malayalam legend’s mastery of acting even in such roles. Recalling the interrogation scene towards the end of the 2013 film, Esther — who plays Georgekutty and Rani’s (Meena) younger daughter, Anu — pointed out that there’s a moment when, despite being beaten black and blue by the police, Georgekutty smiles at his family, assuring them that he’s fine even when he is clearly not.

She revealed that when the film was remade in Telugu, the director suggested to Venkatesh, who reprised Mohanlal’s role, that he recreate the same expression for dramatic weight, but he simply refused, knowing well that it’s impossible for him. “During the interrogation scene, Constable Sahadevan (Kalabhavan Shajohn) comes and kicks Georgekutty. His wife and children are standing nearby, watching in distress. After taking the kick, he (Mohanlal) looks at them and smiles, as if to say, ‘It’s okay, don’t worry.’ That was heartbreaking; it’s a very painful shot to watch. It is just a small moment where he doesn’t do much,” she shared during a conversation with Ginger Media Entertainments.

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‘Only Mohanlal can pull that off’

Recalling the shooting of the same scene for Drushyam (2014), the Telugu remake of the 2013 Drishyam, Esther added, “The reason I remember this so vividly is that we remade this film in Telugu, and Sripriya was the director. She told Venky Uncle (Venkatesh), ‘Venky, this is the shot: they come and hit you, and then you turn around and smile like this.’ At that moment, Venky Uncle said, ‘Ma’am, I can’t do that; only Mohanlal can pull that off.'”

Besides Mohanlal, Meena, and Esther Anil, actors Ansiba Hassan, Asha Sharath, Siddique, Murali Gopy, Saikumar, and KB Ganesh Kumar will also reprise their respective roles from the earlier movies in Drishyam 3. The crime thriller will hit screens worldwide on May 21.