Certain character names are so deep-seated in our hearts that they conjure up emotions of sorts. Bobby is one such. The name is synonymous with the Rishi Kapoor-starrer in B-Town as also the troubled youth in Minnaram played by Mohanlal. The chain grows and the name is getting another version. The Bobby in the making, Niranj, son of actor/producer Maniyanpillai Raju, says has certain resemblance to Solomon, Mohanlal’s character in Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal. The film and the protagonist share the same name.
Niranj plays a lad five years younger than his actual age. A 21-year-old ex-seminary student falls for a slightly older woman and later marries her. “Bobby has actually been kicked out of the seminary. I toned myself down for the role, stripped away some cheek fat,” says he.
Mia George plays the older woman. Niranj’s acting debut took place with Black Butterflies, his dad’s production in 2013. A freshman in college, he had no big preparations or expectations then. “I was an antagonist. Little homework was done for the role. It was like acting all of a sudden,” he says. In this second coming, he has taken acting more seriously. “There is no rehearsal or workshop as such. I have the script in hand. And I am getting to know it well.”
Niranj has earned a Master’s from the UK. “After obtaining a degree, I wanted to pursue some acting course in New York. Dad’s advice was to build a strong academic foundation and I went on to do my post-graduation in International Marketing Management.”
Coming to acting, Niranj says, his father reminds him of the basic tenets an actor has to keep in mind. “What he always tells me is to behave and not to undergo too much stress in acting. Also he tells me once committed to a movie, we should be fully into it,” he shares. “My dream is to have diversity in each movie I do. After all, it’s up to the audience to judge how I perform,” he adds.
Bobby, the directorial next of Plus Two director Shebi, goes on the floors from April 10. The rom-com is to be shot in the locations at Ernakulam, Ooty and Aluva. The cast also has Aju Varghese, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Saju Navodaya, Sudhi Koppa, Sudheer Karamana, and Shammi Thilakan.
