Gokul Suresh seems a bit removed from the excitement of his debut film playing in theatres in Kerala. On the phone from Christ University, Bangalore, where he is doing his final semester in BBA Tourism, Gokul says: “I have my exams and I have not been able to watch the film in the theatre.” Gokul could not give his examinations as the college was not in favour of it owing to attendance issues. “I am very happy at the response the film has been receiving,” he adds.
The 23-year-old has been maintaining a low profile even before the release. “Acting has been a passion for me. Becoming a ‘celebrity’ or a ‘star’ has never been the motivation to get into acting. I just want to be a good actor and I am going to be seriously pursuing cinema,” he says.
As Bharath in Vipin Das’ Muddhugauv, Gokul does an impressive debut, a college student who goes all out to woo his love interest, Ganga, played by newcomer Arthana. “I weighed 100 kilos, and I was asked to lose a little weight for the role. I started working out and lost about seven kilos, but then producer and co-star Vijay Babu asked me to stop. I had to look the part of a happy-go-lucky, roly-poly youngster.”
Part of the reason he could not do intensive work outs was because Gokul met with a bike accident in January last year and it took him about seven months to recover. “Idid thefilm soon after that,” he says.
Son of actor Suresh Gopi, Gokul says he is prepared to handle the expectations of the audience. The film too cleverly alludes to his father’s dialogues and songs— a dialogue from Manichitrathazhu so deeply embedded in the Malayali’s pop culture library and the Malaramban thazhukkunna… songfrom one of Suresh Gopi’s early 90s movies, Chukkan . “There will be comparison and a certain level of expectation. All I have to say is my father just let me be. He has always let me follow what I have wanted to. There have been no serious discussions on whether I should become an actor or not at home. When I watch his films, he is an actor to me and at home, he is my father.”
Nervousness was a given, Gokul says. His acting experience has been limited to street theatre, in which he was seriously involved for over four years. “I was under the tutelage of theatre teacher Joseph Antony and it was a great learning experience. I believe I have imbibed quite a few valuable lessons from him.”
However, facing the camera under the arc lights was a whole new deal. Gokul attended a 12-day grooming session conducted by actor Murali Menon, which helped greatly in preparing for the role. “It had a bit of meditation, dialogue delivery techniques using poems and such. Basically it touched upon the psychology of acting and how to develop the right attitude,” he says.
And the fact that the set was full of fun-loving people lightened things up. “I never felt uncomfortable. It was a fun team and I did not feel conscious. I guess the general mood on the sets rubbed off on me too.” Useful tips came from Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh Faasil and Dhyan Sreenivasan, who unanimously said it was all about “being oneself” in front of the camera. “That really helped me relax,” Gokul says.
He is listening to a few scripts now, but completing his course would be priority. “I believe cinema is an industry that accepts somebody who is willing to give his 100 per cent. Opportunities too would find their way to you if you are serious about your profession. I am willing to do whatever it takes for a role.”
