Shane Nigam: New star rise

What is captivating about Shane Nigam is the elfin charm and unruly mop of hair. He is like any other millennial but there is a rare attribute that he possesses — an innocence that shines out from his eyes. Those same eyes that are now tinged with sorrow-remnants of the recent loss of his father – Abi. But life has to go on and the business of cinema is a tough taskmaster, extracting its pound of flesh sans any sentiments. Shane is gearing up for the release of his film Eeda, in which he stars opposite Nimisha Sajayan. For an actor who is just six films old, the industry, critics and audience have already passed their verdict — a new star has arrived on the horizon.

It was his lead role in Kismath that gave a fillip to his career. His character Irfan was a man mature beyond his years, caught in circumstances that created complex emotional vortexes and though a huge challenge, Irfan was the litmus test that launched Shane’s career. Soon Kammatipaadam, C/O Saira Banu and Parava cemented his position in Mollywood.

In Eeda, Shane plays Anand — an insurance agent settled in Kannur and working in Mysuru. That is all he is willing to say about his role. He adds, “The story that Eeda is trying to tell is very much relevant today and it has politics too. What I can do for the film is to act my part well.”  It was the trust he placed in Rajeev Ravi and director Ajithkumar that made him take up the role. Rajeev Ravi and Shane go back a long way, right to Annayum Rasoolum, Kammatipaadam and now Eeda. Soubin Shahir is another actor/director Shane thinks of as his brother.  Shane is not someone who randomly signs on roles, he is careful in his selection. Asked about his criteria for selecting roles, Shane has this to say.

“Some stories draw me in which I sign, while others don’t do anything for me as an actor, which I let go. Till Eeda, the films I have done have chosen me rather than me selecting them. The films I am doing next year are all carefully selected ones.”  Starting his journey in 2011, it has now been six years and those years have seen crests and troughs in Shane’s professional life. He hints, “I have never gone after anyone asking for a role but there have been instances when people call me for work but that does not happen and then I think I should have sat at home.” Don’t let the baby face fool you — Shane is mature beyond his years.

He says, “I have done small roles to lead roles and from my limited experience, what I understand is that it is the power that works in cinema, not the effort one puts in. If there is star value, that works but not the sincerity and hard work that you put in. This equation hurts sometimes but then I think to myself it is okay.”
Life may have given him some hits but Shane is content with his journey and the trajectory his career is taking. Through all his fame and adulation, Shane remained out of the crosshairs of the camera and media — almost to the point of being reclusive.  There have been comparisons with Fahadh Faasil doing the rounds as well as superlative tags.

“Fahadh ikka is someone I respect and like as an actor. My personal and humble opinion is not to compare me with anyone,” he says and adds, “Tags are something I ignore and I never react to them at all. I am not active on social media and because of that I don’t see, hear or read too much, it takes away the reaction part. Being angry does not make me go to social media and vent, simply because I do not have an account.”

While other young stars interact and get to see the adulation of their fans firsthand through social media interactions, Shane does not miss that aspect. He has a humongous fan following especially among the youth. He remembers a compliment, “A 25-year-old girl addressed me as Joshua (his character in Saira Banu) and told me that she had a cousin exactly like Joshua, even his mannerisms and craze for the camera. That ability of viewers to relate to my character with a real-life person made me happy on a personal level.” Shane, with his boy-next-door charm, is making the girls go weak in the knees.

So does he get fan messages? He bursts into laughter and asks, “Where will I get those messages? I don’t even have a phone — the phone I had got lost and I did not bother to get another one. I have a number now but the messages are yet to come!” Shane has finished his engineering course from Rajagiri College. The road ahead lies open and Shane reveals, “I want to study cinematography but I don’t think I will be able to study cinematography in the coming year because of my film commitments. All I know is that cinema is where I want to be.” Balancing his classes and his films has been tough for the actor who candidly reveals he has not seen too much of his college this year. He naughtily adds, “My solace is that I can write the supplementary exams! If I were to attend my classes from morning to evening including Saturdays, then my film career would have been in the doldrums!” Shane has four projects lined up for next year including Valiyaperunnal, Painkili and an untitled movie.