In a surprising revelation, acclaimed actor Dulquer Salmaan has shared that he was initially terrified of stepping into the world of films, haunted by the immense legacy of his father, the Malayalam megastar Mammootty. The confession came during a candid chat while he was promoting his recent period drama thriller, Kaantha.
The Shadow of a Legacy
Dulquer Salmaan explained that he never considered acting a viable career option. When he was in school, there were no successful second-generation actors in the Malayalam film industry. He noted that while some had tried, none had truly made their mark, which made him believe it was not a path he could pursue. Consequently, he explored other professions, attempting everything else before confronting his cinematic calling.
His perspective shifted when he began meeting friends who were complete outsiders but harboured strong dreams of making it in films. It was then that he realized his reluctance was rooted in fear. "I felt like I wouldn't live up to my father's legacy," Dulquer admitted. However, he decided to face his fear head-on, embracing the adage 'Darr ke aage jeet hai' (Beyond fear lies victory), which he found to be profoundly true.
Mammootty's Unique Brand of Motivation
When it came to advice, Dulquer revealed that his father, Mammootty, never offered formal guidance. Instead, the veteran actor employed a more subtle and competitive approach to inspire his son. Mammootty would often drop sly truth bombs and take playful jabs to push Dulquer to dream bigger.
"He'll be like, 'You know, at your age, 42, I had two National Awards,'" Dulquer quipped. "How do you compete with him?" This competitive spirit was not new; it dated back to their school days. Mammootty would return from award functions and tell his children, "Look, I'm the best at what I do, in my work. Are you the best in your class?" Dulquer and his sister would simply stand there, absorbing the challenging standard set by their father.
Building a Pan-Indian Success Story
Despite his initial fears, Dulquer Salmaan has successfully carved out a distinct identity for himself. He is continuing his success streak in markets outside his home ground of Malayalam cinema. The performance of his latest film, Kaantha, directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, stands as a testament to his box office pull.
In the past few years, he has secured a firm place in other-language industries, with many of his non-Malayalam projects turning into solid successes. A prime recent example is his 2024 Telugu film, Lucky Baskhar, which was well-received by audiences and critics alike.
The actor also shared charming anecdotes about his personal life, revealing that his first celebrity crush was the renowned dancer and actress Shobana. He also spoke about his long-standing friendship with actor-producer Rana Daggubati, whom he met in Kodaikanal during a summer break when he was in the eighth or ninth grade. Their bond, though not maintained with daily calls, remains strong, with conversations picking up effortlessly as if no time has passed. Dulquer added that they share similar dreams for cinema and the kinds of stories they want to tell.
