To dub in Telugu was more challenging than in Tamil'
Says Dulquer Salmaan, son of noted actor Mammootty, who has straddled Malayalam and Tamil movies with ease.
Dulquer has been adding feathers to his cap from his debut in 2012, in different genres of films including crime, drama and comedy.
Excerpts from an interview:
As Gemini Ganesan in Mahanati, the response has been phenomenal. How do you feel?
We all knew that we were doing something very important and special. It was a big challenge to be able to tell the story of the legendary Tamil-Telugu actress Savithri, but I really believed in it. This was a role away from my home territory in Kerala, hence, it was an added challenge.
Why do you look at Kerala as home ground? There is no regional cinema any longer.
Well, I have to agree that the demarcation lines are blurring, but Malayalam cinema has a narrower market than certain other Indian languages. I was happy to step into the Tamil film industry, and now into Telugu and Hindi with Mahanati.
Have you spoken your lines in Telugu?
Yes. Telugu was far more challenging than Tamil. I’ve been dubbing my dialogues in Tamil for some time now and am comfortable. In Telugu I had to understand and absorb what I was saying, practice the words and then dub. I also had to do it repeatedly to get it right for the language expert’s satisfaction.
You’ve chosen a career path very different from that of your father’s (the iconic Mammooty). Was that deliberate?
It had to be different from his. I couldn’t possibly do what he has already done. He has a larger-than-life image, which no one can emulate. I want to set my own footprints in this industry. There is nothing like a ‘born actor’. It’s all about honing my skills and choosing my own path. There definitely was an advantage in being my father’s son — my debut film was easier to land than if I had been a new comer.
Would you like to do a film with your father?
The thought has crossed the minds of many filmmakers and we’ve got a few offers too. I don’t think it’s a good idea as the industry and public would be prone to make comparisons, which would be unfair to us. It has to be a script that offers us a truly special challenge and the need for us to come together.
Do you and your father discuss each other’s roles at the dinner table?
I do talk to him about my work if I feel like, but nothing beyond the usual.We’d rather catch up on other things when we are together.
