Who is Dies Irae actor Arun Ajikumar, co-founder of poster design firm, now in spotlight for performance in Pranav Mohanlal film

Director Rahul Sadasivan has once again left audiences spellbound with yet another horror thriller — this time, the Pranav Mohanlal-starrer Dies Irae — underscoring that he is quite the craftsman. While the movie has received considerable acclaim for its various impressive facets, including technical brilliance, the performances of the cast have also captivated viewers. Among those who have knocked it out of the park is Arun Ajikumar. Amid all the buzz surrounding the film, a section of the audience is busy looking up online to find out which movies Arun Ajikumar has appeared in before this.

In Dies Irae, Arun plays Kiran, the brother of Kani (Sushmita Bhat), with whom Pranav’s character Rohan once had a fling. Arun’s controlled and sharp portrayal of Kiran’s complex mental state and emotional layers — following the suicide of his sister, an incident that has left a permanent scar on his psyche, causing extreme trauma and sleeplessness — has earned him significant praise. His portrayal of the physically demanding character, striking the perfect balance without going overboard or under the line, has impressed many.

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Who is Arun Ajikumar, the co-founder of Aesthetic Kunjamma?

Arun’s journey into the arts began at a young age, and he has a strong theatre background that commenced when he was in Class 3. He gradually transitioned to screen acting, with his first notable role in Pookkaalam (2023). He subsequently appeared in movies such as Do Aur Do Pyaar, Little Hearts, Lovely and Padakkalam.

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Besides acting, Arun is also a renowned designer and the co-founder of the widely acclaimed Aesthetic Kunjamma, which has been making strides in the movie poster design scene. Aesthetic Kunjamma is behind the striking posters of numerous films, including Bramayugam, All We Imagine as Light, Aavesham, Bhoothakaalam, Bougainvillea, Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse, Kannur Squad, Nadikar, Anweshippin Kandethum and Thankam, among others.

Watch Dies Irae trailer here:

Considering that this was Rahul’s immediate directorial venture after the widely acclaimed Mammootty-starrer Bramayugam (2024), the anticipation for Dies Irae was substantial. The movie opened to largely positive responses from all quarters and has already grossed Rs 33 crore worldwide, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.