Kochi: When Ashkkar Soudaan decided to take up Islamic History in Maharajas College, Kochi he had one aim in mind. He wanted to be an actor like his uncle. The nephew of superstar Mammootty believed that the campus, known for moulding many famous personalities, like his uncle, will bless him too. He was absolutely right. The campus shaped the actor in him.
“Cinema has been my passion since childhood. My ancestral home is in Thalayolaparambu. I grew up watching my uncle acting in films. His fame inspired me. The main reason for joining Maharajas College was to open my avenue to films. Though I was not much involved in college activities, it gave me the opportunity to work as a model for magazines and sharpen my acting skills,” says Ashkkar laughing.
He went to study film editing in his spare time during his graduation which served as a stepping stone to the world of glitz and glamour.
Ashkkar began his acting spree with serials such as Aaro Oral and Venal Mazha. He made his debut in tinsel town with Mammootty in Thaskaraveeran in which he essayed a small role with his uncle. He went on to act both in Malayalam and Tamil such as Valiyangadi, Ivar Vivahitharayal and Kanyakumari Express. But Ashkkar’s early roles were not glamorous. He donned roles with a negative touch leaving his signature as an admirable villain.
The actor plays a hero for the first time in his latest Malayalam film Mithram directed by Jespal Shanmughan. “It will be a thrilling movie. It is a horror love story narrating two different periods. I play two roles — Siddharth, a journalist and Madhav a common man, in the film. And there are two heroines,” says Ashkkar.
He says transforming into a hero was no cakewalk. He had to become more responsible. But Ashkkar wants to go beyond playing a villain.
According to him it gives him freedom as an actor. “When you are a hero, the whole film revolves around you. Hence, the responsibility is very high. At the same time, if you are an anti-hero, you have greater freedom of acting,” he says.
Ashkkar is the fifth person from the family to enter the acting arena. He has also acted with his cousin Maqbool Salman in Njanaara mon in which he is a villain. However, Ashkkar is not denying Mammuka’s influence on him.
“Although we grew up watching him, it was really a shock for my family to hear of my decision to act in movies. They never thought I wanted to be an actor. But, uncle was very supportive. He gave me tips on how to behave in this glam world. I keep a good rapport with everyone. I really love uncle’s movies such as Amaram, Valsalyam and Rajamanikyam.”
He has a lot of memories with them. “One day I was going to his house after watching Rajamanikyam, I reached home late and he got very angry. Then mimicking his character in Rajamanikyam, I said ningalu puliyanu ketta. That actually worked and saved me from his wrath,” narrates Ashkkar as he recalls one of the light moments with his uncle.
Apart from acting, he is an avid driver. He is crazy about driving to misty mountains. He owns a business in Chennai where he lives currently.
However, Ashkkar is not willing to give up his long dream of becoming an actor. He assures that he will balance both his business and acting. “Cinema is my life. I am just a beginner now. I will continue acting both in Malayalam and Tamil,” he says as he returns to his busy schedule.
