‘CINEMA has changed me’

Asif Ali on hits and misses, why he does not return calls and being emotional towards his films

Asif Ali walks into the foyer of Olive Downtown, looking a lot leaner than he looked in his latest, B Tech . He has lost eight kilos for Iblis , set to release in July and also, is fasting for Ramadan, he says later during the interview. “I play a 23-year-old in Iblis and had to look the part,” he says, showing a photograph of his character in the film on his mobile phone. The transformation is remarkable, Asif would easily pass of as a 20-something in it.

Asif’s troubled relationship with his phone has always been the talk in the industry and journalists. “I don’t return calls. I guess it is a psychological disorder,” he says rather apologetically, but breaks into laughter soon afterwards. “I have earned a few enemies because of this habit. But, I am a person who is happy where I am at the moment; not on the phone. Whether it is with family or a shoot, I am where I am. And, I am not planning to change that.”

The actor, who found his way into Malayalam films with Shyamaprasad’s

Rithu has been around for a good ten years, giving life to a number of characters in his honest style. Be it as the goofy Manu Raghav in

Salt and Pepper or the intense Nuhukkannu in

Kaattu , films have always been his ultimate dream.

In a freewheeling chat, Asif opens up about his films, production and what it is like being himself.

How do you choose your films?

There is no one particular factor that I look for. I choose the kind of roles I would like to watch in the theatre. Right now, I am increasingly working with new directors and people whose work I know. I came to films because I really desired it.

At a time when it seemed like you were beginning to get typecast, you moved away consciously, doing experimental roles.

I don’t want to be an actor who has always stuck to his safe zone. I have only wanted to be an actor, not a star. When I did the negative character in Ordinary , people advised against it. Also, Apoorvaragam , my second film, won me a few awards for the best villain. Well-wishers felt it was not a smart thing to do. But for me, I’d rather be known for that particular character, be it positive or negative.

Nuhukkannu, for instance, was a very different role.

Kaattu is Anandapadmanabhan’s film based on Padmarajan’s story. And Arun Kumar Aravind, the director, is a brilliant technician. A lot of work went into the film, they gave me a well-detailed characterisation. All I had to do was cooperate with them. That fact that they chose me for the role gave me confidence. And it came out very well, gave me immense satisfaction. And the one in Adventures of Omanakuttan, too .

Does box office success and failure affect you?

Of course, it does. I put my 100 % into every film I do and my expectations are very high. I watch all my films, first day first show, because that is the best way to find out if it has done well or not. The audience knows best. They’ve seen far more films that me. If my film has done well, I celebrate it, if it does not, I cry. I don’t want to be immune to the results of my work. I want to feel it all.

There have been a few films of yours that didn’t do well.

Bad films happen to super stars as well. For me, because of a few bad ones, even the good ones lost out. Omanakuttan … for instance, the response was bad after the first three days. I was devastated and I came live on FB, where I got a bit emotional. It affects me. Similarly, I consider Mosayile Kuthirameenukal to be one of my best films, it is very poetic. But it didn’t do well. Same with Hi I’m Tony. These, however, were later called good films. For a while, I was known as the Torrent superstar.

Has your career changed you as a person?

Yes it has. Cinema gave me exposure. I have even shared the stage with Shashi Tharoor, which I don’t think I would have had it not been for films. (Laughs). My appearance, approach to films, my acting, script selection, have all changed. My family has changed, too. From a bachelor, when I started acting, I have become a father of two now. After shoot, I go home.

However, I still can’t bear to watch my own old films. Some of them embarrass me. My patience has increased now. And I have the courage to say no even after listening to 20 scripts and wait for something I would want to do. I have become more refined, I guess.

Life as a producer.

It is stressful. I acted in both my productions. Right from the initial script to the shoot, pre-production, post production… and finally release… I feel the pain and the pressure.

Is there anything that freaks you out about films?

Yes. The moment I know the next day’s shoot is a song sequence, l lose my sleep. I get very nervous about dancing.