Assim Jamal's lucky look'

Years ago, when director Major Ravi wanted to make a film (Kurukshethra) with the Kargil war as the backdrop, he struggled to find an actor to essay the role of Pakisthani Commando Hydher. It was then that he came across Abudhabi based bank employee Assim Jamal, through one of their mutual friends.

“In fact, it was my ‘look’ that helped me bag that role,” recollects Assim, who is now a busy actor in M’town. Within nine years, the actor did around 15 films including Anwar, Honey Bee, Casanova and Anarkali. Now, he is all set to come up with two more films — Honey Bee 2 and Georgettan’s Pooram. About his relation with Jean Paul Lal, the director of Honey Bee 2, and how he became part of the film, he says, “It was during the shoot of Anwar that I first met Jean, who used to visit the sets of the film, which had Lal in a pivotal role. Though we did not become close, when he sat for the casting for his debut film Honey Bee, he recalled my face for the role of Antony. In fact, that time also it was my attire which helped me become part of the movie.”

A still from Honey Bee 2

Jean had written the story of Honey Bee 2 during the shoot of the prequel itself. “But it was not written as a sequel. It was owing to the pressure of team Honey Bee, he decided to do a sequel, with that story,” says the actor, who acts as a Kabaddi player in Georgettan’s Pooram.

“Though the entire film is set against the backdrop of Thrissur, I am the only character who is not a Thrissur native. But the interesting fact is that my hometown is Thrissur,” says Assim who still works in Abudhabi.