Renowned actor Roshan Mathew recently opened up about his challenging role in ‘Paradise’ and shared his unique perspective on stardom.
A Decade of Distinctive Roles
Roshan Mathew has solidified his position in Malayalam cinema, celebrated for his exceptional acting and commitment to diverse roles. He consistently seeks out projects that push his boundaries, ensuring a high level of quality in both his performances and chosen films.
A decade into his career, Roshan maintains the same passion and drive. While currently basking in the success of ‘Ronth’ and ‘Kankhajura’, he is also busy filming his next project, ‘Chatha Pacha’.
The Demands of ‘Paradise’
Among his acclaimed works, ‘Paradise’ holds a special place. Roshan revealed that portraying Kesav in ‘Paradise’ was more demanding than his role as Dinanath in ‘Ronth’.
“They were both very different experiences and extremely different characters. But Kesav was tougher for me as an actor, mainly because he is more distant from me than Dinanath is. He’s more unlike me,” Roshan shared. He added that director Prasanna Vithanage’s process requires actors to access deeply honest parts of themselves, even for characters with grey shades, making every subtle on-screen action highly significant.
Universal Resonance and Personal Growth
The experience of working on ‘Paradise’, particularly during its preparatory stages, felt profoundly special for Roshan. He knew collaborating with talents like Prasanna Vithanage and cinematographer Rajeev Ravi would be memorable, but the film’s widespread success was truly overwhelming.
The movie resonated globally, proving the concept that specific local stories can achieve universal appeal. Roshan noted how heartwarming it was for Sri Lankan audiences, who had lived through the country’s political climate, to feel “seen” by the film’s accurate representation.
Roshan’s Personal Showcase
When asked to pick three works that best showcase his skills, Roshan chose Geetu Mohandas’ ‘Moothon’ (2019), ‘Paradise’, and Chandan Arora’s crime thriller series ‘Kankhajura’. These selections highlight his versatility across different genres and character types.
A Bittersweet View on Stardom
After a decade in the industry, Roshan reflects on his relationship with stardom. While acknowledging its appeal, he views it with a practical lens. “It would be a lie to say that I have no interest in that kind of stardom. It is very attractive, honestly,” he admitted.
He understands that stardom empowers filmmakers and allows actors to pursue desired projects. However, he emphasizes that his path to stardom isn’t through taking roles designed purely to project him as a star. His focus remains on challenging roles that excite him creatively, rather than sacrificing satisfaction for commercial requirements.
Despite his preference for challenging roles, Roshan is not averse to commercial cinema. He has starred in films like ‘Night Drive’ and ‘Maharani’, and is currently shooting for ‘Chatha Pacha’, an “extremely commercial entertainer”. He added that he would eagerly jump at the chance for a project like Fahadh Faasil’s ‘Aavesham’, which combines commercial appeal with creative excitement.
- Roshan Mathew found his role in ‘Paradise’ more challenging than ‘Ronth’ due to the character’s distance from his own personality.
- ‘Paradise’ resonated deeply with international and Sri Lankan audiences, validating its universal themes.
- Roshan prioritizes creative satisfaction over chasing conventional stardom, though he acknowledges its practical benefits.
- He is open to commercial projects that offer exciting and challenging roles.
Roshan Mathew continues to carve a unique path in cinema, driven by a passion for compelling storytelling and authentic performances, rather than the conventional pursuit of fame.
