Fahadh Faasil

Some Lesser Known Facts About Fahadh Faasil

• Fahadh Faasil is an Indian actor who mainly works in Telugu and Malayalam films.

• He was born in a Muslim family. ^[9]The Quint

• During an interview, while talking about quitting engineering, he said,
  

  I have discussed my engineering college dropout story earlier in a couple of my interviews. In America, you cannot shift majors after the first two years of school or else it meant your financial aid being withdrawn. So after my second year, my advisor called me in for a counselling session as my grades were falling crazy. During the session, I somehow gathered the courage to admit that I am a failed actor/individual who has been running away from my own and measurements is the last thing I want to do with my life. My advisor took the initiative to write to my dean and I was shifted to the art school. Six years in America and when I returned home without a degree, the only thing I felt good about was the fact that, since I don’t have a degree I could start anywhere.”

• His debut Malayalam film ‘Kaiyethum Doorath’ (2002) failed to do well at the box office which was produced by his father. In an interview, while talking about the film, he said,
  

  Don’t blame my father for my failure because it was my mistake and I came into acting without any preparation of my own.”

• He then continued his studies in the US. After five years, he returned to India and appeared in the Malayalam film ‘Kerala Cafe’ (2009).

  

• In 2010, he acted in four Malayalam films ‘Pramani,’ ‘Cocktail,’ ‘Tournament,’ and ‘Best of Luck.’

  

• He gained immense popularity with the 2011 Malayalam film ‘Chaappa Kurishu.’ The film attracted negative publicity for a long kissing scene. It is considered as first-ever (longest kissing scene) in Malayalam films. ^[10]The Times of India

  

• In 2013, he appeared in a dozen of Malayalam films like ‘Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla,’ ‘Akam,’ ‘Artist,’ ‘North 24 Kaatham,’ and ‘D Company.’

• His other Malayalam films are ‘Haram’ (2015), ‘Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum’ (2017), ‘Kumbalangi Nights’ (2019), and ‘Trance’ (2020).

  

• In 2014, while shooting for the Malayalam film ‘Bangalore Days,’ he became friends with his co-star Nazriya Nazim (who is 12 years younger than him). Later, they fell in love with each other, and they got married following the Muslim wedding rituals. During an interview, while talking about his wife, Faasil said,
  

  7 years of Bangalore days bring back so many good memories. Falling head over heels for Nazriya, the beginning of my journey with her. I asked her out over a handwritten letter and slipped a ring along. She didn’t say yes. But she didn’t say NO either!! I shot Bangalore days along with two other films. It’s just suicidal to shoot three films at a time. I used to look forward to returning to shoot Bangalore days (sic).”

  He continued,

  I loved being around Nazriya. But my thoughts were random. I don’t know if it sounds well now, but at that point, there was a lot Nazriya had to give up choosing me. It absolutely worried me and I kept fluctuating. It’s just when I thought it was all going to be over because I am not strong enough she said, ‘Hello, method actor, who do you think you are? It’s just one simple life. pack your bags with everyone and everything you need (sic). She once said that she’d take care of me for the rest of my life. No woman had ever said such a thing to me. Who wouldn’t want a love like that?!”

• In 2018, he was featured in the Malayalam music video “Nee” by Amal Neerad.

• He boycotted the National Awards Ceremony 2018 along with many other awardees as the awards were being distributed by the then Information and Broadcast Minister Smriti Irani instead of the President of India. ^[11]The Times of India

• Some of his Malayalam films released on OTT platform during the coronavirus pandemic were ‘C U Soon’ (2020), ‘Joji’ (2021), and ‘Malik’ (2021).

• Reportedly, the role of Faasil as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat in the Telugu film ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ (2021) was offered to the Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta. However, Sengupta could not accept the offer due to his work commitments and the role then went to Faasil. ^[12]The Times of India In an interview, while talking about Faasil’s role in the film, his co-star Allu Arjun said,
  

  I was wishing that he did this character because it needs a very powerful antagonist. Someone who has got a star presence. The moment he agreed and came on board it was wonderful. To see him perform live was very nice. Because I have seen his work on screen but still there’s a loss of generation. When you see the actor perform live, it’s a different experience altogether.”

• Faasil is filming for various films (as of 2022) including ‘Malayankunju’ (Malayalam), ‘Vikram’ (Tamil), and ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ (Telugu).

• Under his film production banner ‘Fahadh Faasil and Friends,’ he has produced many Malayalam films like ‘Kumbalangi Nights’ (2019), ‘Joji’ (2021), and ‘Thankam’ (2022).

• Fahadh has appeared in TV commercials of various brands like Titan, Milma, Jos Alukkas, and UAE Exchange.

  

• In an interview, he shared his limitations and self-doubts. He said,
  

  I have self-doubts and I don’t consider myself to be a great artist. This is nothing to do with being unsure. But an actor needs to be flexible. I don’t believe that I can play any character that’s given to me. I’m here because I’ve nowhere else to go. I don’t know for how long I’ll be here. I’ve not promised anyone that I will be around for any given time.”

  He continued,

  For me the challenge is within me. I don’t think of what people expect from me. I think only of my own expectations from me. Does the commercial success of my films bother me? Not at all. As long as everyone associated with my film is paid and no one suffers a loss, I am fine. I produce my own films, and I am answerable only to myself. Like I said, I can’t do the work that I want to do unless I am in control as a producer.”

• During an interview, he shared that he avoided working in Hindi films as he is not good at the Hindi language. He said,
  

  The thing is, I am not fluent in Hindi. I need to think in the language that I speak my dialogues in. Yes, I’ve been offered many Hindi films. I’d love to come there. There’s so much talent there. But at the same time, Malayalam cinema is also getting there. In a couple of years, the language won’t matter.”

  He added,

  They watched my movies before they came on the OTT platforms before the rest of the country did. I owe my career to them. It’s because of them that I’m attempting (these movies) and experimenting. Outside of Kerala, I don’t think I can do the kind of films that I do. None of my films is remade because they are very rooted. I absolutely enjoy it here and just want to be here for the time being.”

Fahadh Faasil in Joji