Akhil Vishwanath sounds perplexed when asked about Chola. Though the shooting for the film has been wrapped up, the debutant is still amazed while talking about his experience. The young man, who is mad about movies, is all set to join filmdom through award winning-director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s upcoming movie. “I am a true cinema fanatic and always wanted to be a part of the industry. Acting in shorts films was the first step. However, the shift to big screen was unexpected. I came to know about the casting call and attended the audition. I didn’t even guess that it was the beginning of a new chapter in my life,” says Akhil, who considers it lucky to start his career with such a talented film maker.
One of the three lead characters in the movie, Akhil reveals that the movie is based on an important incident that happens in the life of the trio; the other two are played by Nimisha Sajayan and Joju George. Refraining from talking more about his character or the plot, Akhil says that as every Sanal Kumar films, Chola too will have an impact on the audiences and will persuade them to think about certain aspects of life more seriously. “Though I knew that there is a director named Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, I was unaware of the controversies related to S Durga or other complex matters related to his movies. But now I understand the reason why he stands tall in the crowd,” he says, adding that the director has a clear idea of the actors and locations and he would never compromise with the feel of the movie.
Terming his experience of working with Joju and Nimisha as a fun ride, Akhil says, “I had many inhibitions about mingling with them as they are popular actors and have proven their talent. As mine is a full-length character and have many combinations scenes with them, I was worried if I could match their speed in grasping the dialogues and understanding a particular scene. But I was proven wrong the very first day. They took utmost care to make me comfortable so that I could do my part well. I hope I have lived up to their expectations.” As a signing note, Akhil adds that he will cherish the lessons Chola has taught him.
