‘I wanted to turn it off, but couldn’t’: SS Rajamouli’s unforgettable message to Fahadh Faasil

SS Rajamouli has revealed what made Fahadh Faasil’s performance in ‘Joji’ so captivating that he found himself unable to look away. The filmmaker had described the actor as a serpent in a message, explaining how the character held his attention despite his desire to stop watching.

Speaking during a conversation with the team of ‘Don’t Trouble The Trouble’, Rajamouli discussed his admiration for Fahadh, his favourite Malayalam films and his desire to work with the actor. He also recalled a conversation with Mohanlal that offered him a glimpse into the veteran actor’s approach to performing.

SS Rajamouli on Fahadh Faasil’s ‘Joji’, ‘Trance’ and ‘Aavesham’

Although Rajamouli admitted that he does not watch Malayalam cinema extensively, Fahadh’s filmography has been an exception. The director said he has watched several of the actor’s films and continues to be fascinated by his performances.

“I don’t watch a lot of Malayalam films. Definitely, I have watched a lot of Fahadh’s films. I love his films. Trance has been my all-time favourite and, of course, Aavesham. I always tell him that I love to hate him,” Rajamouli said.

Fahadh then brought up a message he had received from the filmmaker after Rajamouli watched ‘Joji’. The text had compared the actor to a serpent, capturing the unsettling hold his performance had on the viewer.

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“I remember you texted me after watching Joji that, ‘You are like a serpent. I want to turn it off, but I don’t know how,’” Fahadh recalled.

The exchange offered a glimpse into what Rajamouli finds compelling about Fahadh’s acting: the ability to keep an audience engrossed, even when the character on screen evokes discomfort or dislike.

SS Rajamouli on what makes Malayalam cinema stand out

Rajamouli also spoke about the range of films coming out of Malayalam cinema, highlighting its storytelling and performances.

Among his personal favourites is Mohanlal’s ‘Drishyam’. He also revealed that he had recently watched ‘Bro Daddy’.

“One of my all-time favourites is Lal sir’s Drishyam. Just two days back, I watched Bro Daddy. I am amazed with the kind of films Malayalam cinema makes. From small films to big films, to socially conscious films, to action, to thrillers. If you ask me one thing that is the highest quality in Malayalam cinema, I will say it is the acting and writing,” he said.

The filmmaker added that he hopes to collaborate with Fahadh, partly because he wants to understand the actor’s creative process more closely.

“I really want to work with Fahadh to learn how he brings the character into his acting. I want to see that. That is why I want to work with him,” Rajamouli said.

What Mohanlal told SS Rajamouli about acting

Rajamouli also recalled meeting Mohanlal in Hyderabad and asking him about his approach to acting. The Malayalam superstar’s response, as recounted by the filmmaker, centred on approaching every new character without preconceived notions.

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“He said, ‘I will tell you my secret. Just before shooting any film, I go and talk to the universe and say, ‘I know nothing.’ And I mean it with every cell of my body — that I know nothing about acting and nothing about the character. I don’t know anything. I am a part of you. You give it to me.’ I believe it and I do that, and the universe gives it to me,” Rajamouli recalled.

The anecdote revealed the philosophy Mohanlal shared with him: approaching a role with complete openness and allowing the character to take shape through the process.

SS Rajamouli on Fahadh Faasil’s popularity beyond Malayalam cinema

At the pre-release event of ‘Don’t Trouble The Trouble’ in Kerala, Rajamouli had also spoken about how his understanding of Fahadh’s popularity changed over time.

He said he initially believed the actor’s films primarily attracted an elite audience. Watching Fahadh’s work on OTT platforms, however, gradually introduced him to the actor’s range.

“Like many people in India, apart from Malayalis, I am a big fan of Fahadh Faasil. I watched many of his films on OTT; I was discovering them one after another. What surprised me was that I always thought there would be some elite films, class films. That was my perception,” he said.

Rajamouli recalled an incident from around five or six years ago, when his wife’s 55-year-old cousin, who lived in a small town, visited him in Hyderabad. During the conversation, she asked whether he had watched FaFa’s films.

Rajamouli said he was initially unfamiliar with the nickname and only later realised that she was referring to Fahadh Faasil.

“Then I realised Fahadh Faasil’s reach was not restricted to the elite. People across Telugu land had already known him,” he said.

About ‘Don’t Trouble The Trouble’

‘Don’t Trouble The Trouble’ marks Fahadh Faasil’s first Telugu film as a solo lead. He plays Suri, a street magician and small-time con artist whose life takes an unexpected turn after he encounters Divya, a young girl played by Ssara Palekar.

Written and directed by Shashank Yeleti, the film is produced by Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni and SS Karthikeya under the banners of Arka Mediaworks and Showing Business. SS Rajamouli is presenting the project.

The film also features Saurabh Sachdeva and is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on October 2 in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.