Dulquer is a big Naslen fan, even Mammootty likes him; Sunny was planned for another actor: Dominic Arun

Filmmaker Dominic Arun revealed that Dulquer Salmaan was particularly excited about Naslen’s casting in Loka: Chapter One – Chandra, while also noting that several others were also considered before Kalyani Priyadarshan was finalised for the role of Chandra.

“Dulquer is a big Naslen fan. Even Mammootty likes him. Initially, another actor was supposed to play the role of Sunny. But when the story was narrated, Naslen said he liked it so much that he was ready for any role,” the filmmaker said in an interview with Club FM.

Speaking about the film’s reception, Arun said the overwhelming response had exceeded expectations. “We knew the film was different and experimental. There were doubts about how people would accept it. But the kind of response we are getting now is beyond expectations,” he shared

Dominic Arun on Kalyani’s character

Arun also reflected on how Chandra came together, admitting that more than one actress had been considered for the role before Kalyani was finalised. “Chandra is only a sneak peek into the world of Loka. She is the smallest superhero in the Loka universe, and what’s coming next is much bigger. When I narrated the story to Dulquer, we didn’t have a final cast in mind. There were options for Chandra, and one of them was Kalyani. She worked very hard for the role, with full commitment. The appreciation she is receiving now is truly deserved. At this point, we can’t think of anyone else as Chandra. She will surely return in the rest of Loka,” Arun said.

The director highlighted how quickly Kalyani adapted to the character once filming began. “I had strong confidence that Kalyani would fit the role. From the narration itself, she had an idea about the character. Within two days of shooting, she was fully in sync. It became clear to us that Chandra was safe with Kalyani,” he added.