Veteran actor Harisree Ashokan remains one of the most beloved comedic faces among Malayalees, especially those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s. Ubiquitous in popular comedy films of that era, he continues to be a respected and senior figure in today’s Malayalam film industry.

In a recent in-depth interview with Cue Studio, Ashokan reflected on his journey from mimicry troupes to becoming a household name in Malayalam cinema.

Ashokan recalled receiving guidance from Mohanlal on the sets of Balettan.

During the shoot of a scene, he found it difficult to deliver a dialogue correctly. Sensing his struggle, Mohanlal quickly stepped in and offered a helpful tip that enabled him to get it right.

“I had delivered a lengthy dialogue in a scene the previous day without any issues. But this time, I had to say it in front of a large crowd, and I was nervous. There were so many people watching. I fumbled in the first take and again in the second.

Seeing this, Lalettan called me over and asked, ‘What’s the problem? You delivered an even longer dialogue yesterday without a hitch. What happened now?’

I told him, ‘There are so many talented artists watching us from the crowd. I’m not sure if I’m doing it properly.’

Lalettan leaned in close and whispered in my ear, ‘Out here, we are the superstars. Just remember that and enjoy it.’

That bit of reassurance changed everything. The very next take went perfectly," Ashokan recalled.

Ashokan also recalled a moment during the filming of Balettan when Mohanlal injured his back while shooting a dance sequence.

“During the song Karu Karu Karuthoru Kannane, there’s a part where I jump onto Lalettan and he spins around as part of the choreography. It was during that shot that he sprained his back. The injury caused a delay of two to three days before we could resume and complete the scene. The entire dance had a lot of contributions and effort from Lalettan,” Ashokan said.

Mammootty's advice

Meanwhile, the veteran actor also fondly recalled his memorable moments with Mammootty, with whom he first shared screen space in Rakshasa Rajavu, directed by Vinayan.

"I first worked with Mammookka in Rakshasa Rajavu. Around the same time, I was also filming Kusruthi, directed by Anil Babu, in which I played a lead role. The shoot for Rakshasa Rajavu had already begun at Udaya Studio, while I still had a dance sequence and a scene left to complete for Kusruthi. However, there was a continuity issue; I was sporting a beard for Kusruthi, but in Rakshasa Rajavu, I had to play a police officer, which required a clean-shaven look. I was in a fix. Director Vinayan spoke to Mammookka about the situation, and Mammookka reassured him, saying, "He has done films (characters) with a beard before, too." To get around the issue, I even joked that I had a blade allergy. When I first arrived at Udaya Studio for the shoot, Mammookka and a few of his friends were sitting outside. I was nervous; it was my first time acting alongside him. But to my surprise, they all stood up to greet me. Mammookka offered me a seat and sat down beside me. At the time, I also had long hair in addition to the beard. Seeing me, Mammookka joked, “You’re playing a cop, if you’re not shaving the beard, can you at least cut your hair?” Ashokan recalled.

He also recalled a valuable piece of advice Mammootty gave him on the sets of Annan Thambi, when Ashokan was struggling to deliver a lengthy dialogue.

“Mammookka was sitting behind the camera, looking at a laptop or something. I fumbled during the first take, and the same thing happened in the second. Seeing this, Mammookka said, ‘Ashoka, try breaking the sentence, pause in between, and then say it.’ I followed his advice on the next take, and it worked perfectly. It was a huge learning experience,” Ashokan shared.