'He got angry at me, I thought I lost the role,' Thesni recalls working in Mammootty film

In a programme on Safari TV, actor Thesni Khan spoke about her re-entry into the film industry and her role in the 2010 film Pokkiri Raja. Directed by Vysakh, the film starred Mammootty and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles, with an ensemble cast that included Shriya Saran, Nedumudi Venu and Salim Kumar.

Thesni, who appeared in a prominent role as Salim Kumar’s wife in Pokkiri Raja, recounted the story of how she was cast in the film. She shared that her comeback into Malayalam cinema began in 2010, a year that marked a turning point in her career. Prior to this, she had only worked in a handful of films and had little expectation of a breakthrough.

Recalling how the opportunity for Pokkiri Raja came about, Thesni described receiving an unexpected call while returning home from the shoot of Cinemala. "I got a call from Jaison Elamgulam, the production controller, who told me that they needed me to block dates for Mammootty's film. At first, I didn’t take it seriously, thinking it was some kind of prank, especially since I was only involved in Cinemala at that time," she said.

When Jaison requested her to block ten days for the shoot, Thasni found it hard to believe. She thought it was just a joke and asked, "Is ten days enough?" The response she got was, "Yes, ten days will be enough. We'll call you later." Thasni, unsure about the authenticity of the call, jokingly shared the news with her mother, saying, "Some guy called me and asked for ten days for Mammootty's film." To which her mother had responded, "Are you sure it’s not real?"

Two days later, Thasni received another call from Jaison confirming the dates for the shoot from the 10th to the 20th. But as she refused to believe the offer, he got a bit angry. Jaison clarified that the call had come on the recommendation of screenwriters Udaykrishna and Sibi K. Thomas. Realizing that it was indeed a legitimate offer, Thesni became both excited and nervous. “I thought the opportunity might slip away,” she admitted.

It was through this call and the guidance of the respected screenwriters that Thesni found her way into Pokkiri Raja. Looking back, she recalls that the suddenness of it all made 2010 a year she would never forget. Thesni's role in Pokiri Raja marked a turning point in her career, opening doors to numerous opportunities in other films. (With inputs from Agencies)