Meet Sharada aka Dundumol: 74-year-old social media star makes cinema debut with Kunchacko Boban

Vadakara, Kerala: It was a journey from the kitchen to social media reels and now all the way to the silver screen. Sharada, 74, a former cooking worker at a school in Vadakara, Kozhikode, is set to make her mark in the film world with a prominent role in a new movie starring Kunchacko Boban.

Sharada has already caught attention with the second-look poster of ‘40 Days of House Party’, directed by Shifina Babin Pakkar. The poster features her in an Adidas jacket and traditional jewellery.

Asked whether audiences would be surprised when the film releases, Sharada said, “I don't know... I spent my life around the stove and kitchen, and now I got a chance to act in a film... I did exactly what the director told me... They said it was superb...”

Sharada is better known locally as Dundumol, particularly among social media users. She entered the world of acting through the character created for Ambilimaman, a YouTube channel run by her nephew Saikrishna and his wife Athira.

Until then, Sharada's life had largely revolved around the kitchen. She had worked as a cook at a school near her home for several years. About a year ago, when Saikrishna was struggling to find someone to perform in his YouTube reels, he cast Sharada in a role.

Her videos soon became hits. Appearing as Dundumol in childlike outfits, Sharada began attracting viewers on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Her videos regularly received tens of thousands of views, while the YouTube channel's subscriber count has now climbed close to 2 million.

It was through Instagram reels that director Shifina Babin Pakker spotted Sharada and offered her a role in the film. ‘40 Days of House Party’ marks Shifina's debut as an independent director.