Well-known for his stint in Malayalam cinema, actor Roshan Mathew will soon be seen in Ulajh, starring Janhvi and Gulshan. In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, the actor discusses his unique choices, getting on board for Ulajh and his camaraderie with co-stars.
SHIKHA DUGGAL
Fans are incredibly excited about Roshan Mathew’s next film, Ulajh, as seen by the quick sell-out of its special preview showing in several cities. The film’s team quickly scheduled fan screenings in Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and other cities after releasing its gripping trailer. As previously indicated, we have the prominent actor with us today who shares the secrets and is well-known in Malayalam cinema.
“I am happy knowing that I have been called an unconventional actor; however, to break the bubble, I don’t specifically go out looking for one,” Roshan, who is well-known for his unique choices, said as we started this exclusive conversation. “For me, it’s always a combination of what naturally interests me, whether or not I find the character appealing and whether or not I want to collaborate with the actors! For me, that has always been the deciding factor. I’m Roshan, the actor and those who know me that I don’t travel with any preconceptions. For instance, it would take something really unique to convince me to work on a Malayalam film. Give me a good enough excuse to go outside and shoot!”
And with Ulajh, he says, “The first and most evident reason to support a film is to recognise a strong script! You won’t believe me when I say that I read the entire script in one sitting out of intense curiosity about what would happen next. I think the decision by the filmmakers to cast Janhvi Kapoor in the lead role was an intriguing one. I can admit, though, that I was most thrilled to be placed opposite Gulshan because I have always respected his work.”
Hollywood action filmmaker Nick Powell has planned stunt sequences for this spy thriller, Ulajh. He is well-known for his stints in Hollywood productions like The Last Samurai, Gladiator and Born Identity. Aside from this, Roshan informs us, “I contacted my director very early on to learn more about the subjects of espionage and diplomacy. He sent me a prepared list of interviews and books—oh my goodness! Accounts from former diplomats and embedded agents at an embassy were also available. I had no idea this was the world. I’m not connected to any embassy! Though I wish I had, I’ll never mind (he laughed) and ring them up to find out more information. I also turned to a few literary allusions.”
Continuing on a lighter note, he says, “I truly enjoy the research aspect of my work. Every film I see reveals a different side of me! I have to suddenly become someone I didn’t know anything about before. That’s really awesome! I am strolling past my bookshelf while I speak with you right now. To be honest, Bridge of Spies was also a big help. This piques our interest, since acting can be incredibly draining otherwise. These movies provide us with a secret goal to strive toward!”
The actor also declares, “I have very few scenes with Gulshan that I am particularly disappointed about,” in reference to his fellow actors in Ulajh. “What a talented actor he is! I’ve been a huge fan of this guy for a long time, even before I did my first movie. I had never met any of the co-actors previously, so my first encounters with them all occurred during the workshop sessions. Janhvi’s maturity really impressed me, I must admit! She didn’t have any temper tantrums and I observed her being quite available for all the tasks she was requested to complete. Ulajh was only elevated by Janhvi Kapoor. I had one of the trickiest scenes with her; we had to film for nearly the entire night and we were having a lot of trouble. Dear God!”
More exclusive details were revealed by Roshan to The Pioneer, who reported, “It was my first time in London and I had a great time. My sister spent some time there. She was a student in Edinburgh! I began my career in theatre and as we all know, London theatre has a global following. During my free time, I would investigate everything and attend as many performances as I could. I walked a lot, had the renowned London coffee—what more could one need in life? (He laughed aloud.) The Ulajh schedule in London was fantastic. Yes, we had a full schedule in Bhopal as well! However, we were astute and didn’t portray it as Bhopal.” Well, that was quite enlightening.
