Sunny days beckon

Even when he stepped into the industry in the role of an assistant director, his ultimate aim was to come in front of the camera. But it was after a seven-year-long struggle he got to don sidekick roles. Shine Tom Chacko, who had to take a break from the industry after he was nabbed by cops in connection with a drug case, is now back with a bang. In his second innings, the majority of the roles which comes to the actor are that of protagonist.

The last six months saw two films hitting the screens with Shine in the lead role; two other movies are in the production stage. Has he become choosy? “No… I am not sorting the hero roles from the projects. I have also signed for films in which I get supporting roles. But yes, the lion’s share of the offers which come to me is that of the hero roles,” says Shine.

He says it is the director’s discretion to choose who is better to enact the hero role.

“There are so many people with a dream to direct a film and struggling to make it real. For a majority of them, it is not an easy job to get the dates of the stars. So in order to kickstart their project, they have to approach other actors. In the meantime, the films and the roles which I find suitable for me are those I choose,” says Shine, who agrees still satellite right is a big issue faced by the directors who make films without stars.

“Even when I am approached to do the lead roles as well as the title roles, the directors know the issue they have to face in the form of satellite right. But still they come to me as they have faith in me,” says the actor, who is currently acting on Aneesh Upasana's Kinder Joy.

It was four months ago Shine agreed to act as Kinder in the film. “I know Aneesh from the past few years as he is one of the friends of Binu, who directed Ithihasa.

Last October he told me about the film and screenwriter Shani Khader narrated the script. I found it an interesting subject—which is a fun-thriller revolving around the lives of Kinder (myself) and Joy (played by Bhagath Manuel). That was how I agreed to act in this film,” says Shine, who recently wrapped up the Nasik schedule of Kinder Joy.

Debutante Mathew’s Margamkali is the next film in his kitty to essay the lead role. In the film, he enacts the role of a villager who dreams to venture into business, which has branches in foreign countries. “He is a normal guy who earns money with baking food products for local bakeries in his native place. The story is about him and how he fulfils his dreams,” says Shine.

Had the issues he faced in connection with the case brought any change to his life? “I did not feel that there is a big change in my life. Still I am active in the industry. I think the support offered by family and my close friends is the backing force which helped me to make a comeback to the industry,” says the actor who is at his home in Thrissur, adding, “As earlier, I prefer to stay back at my house in Thrissur when I have no shoot.”

Rajeev Ravi’s Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Kammatti Paadam and T V Chandran’s Mohavalayam are Shine’s other upcoming films.