Suresh Krishna is enjoying a very different kind of attention after ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’. Known for playing a string of villainous characters over the years, the actor has now won viewers over as Baiju Bhai in Girish AD’s film. His comic timing and easy presence have left audiences praising the actor. In an interview, Suresh Krishna spoke about breaking away from his villain image, working with Girish AD and Nivin Pauly for the first time, and the roles he hopes to take up in the future.

‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’ has changed the way people see me

On the success of ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’ and the response to his character Baiju, Suresh Krishna said he is happy to have been part of a film where every department came together well.

“When all the departments of a film come together, it becomes a superhit. I am happy that I got to be part of such a successful film. When I was approached for ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, I knew I would be working with a new team. I had never worked with director Girish or lead actor Nivin Pauly before. They also did not know me personally.”

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“Before this, I had played only a few comedy characters in films such as ‘Maranamass’, ‘Driving Licence’ and ‘Chettayees’. So, I went to the set with a lot of excitement and happiness. I had watched Girish AD’s ‘Thanneer Mathan Dinangal’, ‘Super Sharanya’ and ‘Premalu’, liked them and had even called him to congratulate him. That was the only connection we had.”

“I was also wondering whether I would be able to connect with everyone once I reached the set. But from the first day itself, I clicked with the story and the team. Once we started getting scenes, all of us enjoyed performing them. The precise script and Girish’s direction helped improve everyone’s performances.”

“While we were shooting, we were confident that this would become a good film. Girish’s magic and Bhavana Studios as a production house were the foundation of that confidence. I am grateful to the audience for making the film a bigger success than we had imagined.”

‘I was trapped in villain roles for a long time’

Suresh Krishna has spent a large part of his career playing antagonists. According to the actor, there was a time when audiences had almost decided that he would always be the villain whenever he appeared in a Malayalam film.

“There was a general assumption among Malayalis that if I was in a film, I would be the villain. For a certain period, I was trapped in villain roles. I am actually someone who looks at life in a simple way. But after playing villains for so many years, there was a point when I started becoming a little harsh even in real life.”

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“It was only in the last few years that I started getting opportunities to act in comedy and laugh on screen after so many years. As Nivin said in an interview, the perception people had about me has changed with this film.”

“Breaking an image and reinventing yourself are also part of an actor’s responsibility. Every day, Malayalis from different parts of the world are watching the film and sharing how much they enjoyed it. I am thankful to everyone who has said good things about me, including Nivin.

“I have also done characters with a touch of humour in my upcoming films. It is not that I have completely moved away from villain roles. If a good role comes, I will take it. But I may not be playing the kind of villain who gets beaten up like before. If interesting negative characters come my way, I will definitely play them.”

Suresh Krishna’s unfulfilled acting dreams

The actor also spoke about some of the filmmakers he hopes to work with, including Mani Ratnam and Sathyan Anthikad.

“Mani Ratnam sir had considered me for a role in his film ‘Kadal’ after watching ‘Kutty Srank’. I went to his office and spoke to him about it. But the character was eventually removed because there were changes to the story at the last minute. I still hope he will call me someday.

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“I have also wanted to act in a Sathyan Anthikad film for a long time. I am waiting and hoping for that opportunity. Even if he does not call me, I hope his sons Anoop and Akhil will at least cast me in their films.

“Beyond that, I want to work with all the talented filmmakers from the new generation. I believe they will give me many different kinds of characters.”

‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, directed by Girish AD and backed by Bhavana Studios, stars Nivin Pauly, Mamitha Baiju and Sangeeth Prathap in key roles. The film follows the lives and relationships within a close-knit family, with humour and everyday moments driving much of the story.