Tito likes to keep it real

The waters have receded and the flood-affected Malayalam film industry is slowly getting back on its feet. Every movie release has taken a hit and shootings have been delayed. But for Marshal Tito Wilson, it was a lucky time. Sporting an embarrassed smile, the actor reveals, “I know I shouldn’t be saying this but the floods turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me.” With no movie releases happening, it was his movie Maradona that was screened to packed houses during the Onam season. The Tovino Thomas-starrer saw him portraying the titular character’s best friend Sudhi. Known for his ruffian roles in Angamaly Diaries, Pokkiri Simon and Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil, Tito is glad to have shown the world another face of his as an actor.

“So far, it has been fights and threats by a lone wolf, but Sudhi is different. With a romantic story, deep friendship and a husband’s part to bring out, this movie has given me a different space to perform,” recalls Tito, who is all set play the hero in Aaliyante Radio. The last time he spoke to Kerala Chronicle, Tito was a man of few words, very media-shy for a newbie actor who shot to fame with his debut act as U-clamp Rajan in Angamaly Diaries. But now, he looks different; there’s a jovial air about the actor, who kept on talking about his films and roles. When asked about that, he lets out a laugh. “Keeping mum was not working, because people mistake it as arrogance. I have been very comfortable silently observing people than striking up conversations. From experience, I learnt that one has to speak up at some point. Also, imagine shooting with a ‘chunk buddy’ like Tovino; how long can you stay silent,” he laughs.

There have been reports about an ugly online spat between Tito and Sarath Kumar, the fierce Appani Ravi from Angamaly Diaries. The duo had been buddies since their theatre days. What happened between them? “It’s nothing serious. In a post congratulating my role in Maradona, Sarath had mentioned our struggling days. But I felt things are different and we need not discuss bygones now. Why hurt our families? He should have exercised caution while commenting on my personal matters and I conveyed it to him. Yes, Sarath was hurt because he didn’t mean to offend me. We talked it out and this hasn’t affected our friendship; we are still best friends,” he beams.

The 25-year-old actor is happy that he is being offered a variety of roles now. “In the upcoming Thanaha, I play a policeman; it’s a humor-packed film. After that, there’s Aaliyante Radio, in which I play the hero for the first time. There might be another project with our Angamaly team; nothing has been confirmed about that,” says Tito, adding that he is not averse to villain characters. “It’s just that I have got enough bruises for a lifetime,” he laughs.