Mohanlal told Mathrubhumi News that both he and Sathyan Anthikkad had been caught up in busy schedules, which is why they could not work together on films for a long time. We have lost many artists who used to inspire us to think about making films in the old style. When someone is gone, there is no replacement for them. Making a good film is a very difficult task. Anger does arise at times, but I am usually able to control it. At such moments, it is possible to bring in happiness or love, he further said while sharing details about his film Hridayapoorvam.

“It’s been about 40 years since Sathyettan and I started making films together. In between, we couldn’t collaborate because both of us were busy. The difference is between someone who does a lot of films and someone who does only a few. What is special about Hridayapoorvam is that Sathyan has arrived at something completely different from all his earlier films. One reason for that is the fact that we no longer have those artists who could think in terms of old-style cinema.

Most of the cast of Hridayapoorvam are newcomers. Many of them have never worked with Sathyettan before. With Pune as the backdrop, the chosen theme, and the songs, Sathyan has stepped into a new style. Nobody else would make a film like this. On the location of this film, Sathyettan and I spoke about many old things, about several actors. We especially talked a lot about Innocent. We remember him every day. Sathyan is someone who genuinely enjoys such conversations. Priyadarshan often says that when you think of a story, there is a huge emptiness when you wonder who will play a certain role. Once someone is lost, there is no one else to replace them.

At the beginning of the ‘Thudarum movie’, I didn’t know much about director Tharun Moorthy. You only get to know while working together. He is a highly committed director. He has studied Kathakali for 14 years. When you see the passion of such a director, you feel like stepping into his vision. Tharun Moorthy is one such director. Making a good film is extremely difficult. Everything has to fall into place.

I entered cinema at a time when Malayalam had its biggest stars. Except for rare people, I have acted with almost everyone. Not just in Malayalam, I also acted alongside Shivaji Ganesan sir, Amitabh Bachchan, Nageswara Rao sir, and others. They all took me in with so much love and affection. It was within that love that actors like me, who came in those days, were nurtured. That’s why it’s impossible for us not to love them back.

Even as a child, I had friendships with people older than me and also with youngsters. I never found it difficult to move between such relationships. Even if they didn’t come to me, I would go to them. In Hridayapoorvam, Sangeeth Prathap has played a major role. It was my duty to make him comfortable. That is how a film becomes good. My seniors always treated me with great warmth, so naturally, I too treat my juniors with love. This warmth will be visible in Hridayapoorvam.

I have known Prakash Varma for a while. When I was thinking of doing a different kind of advertisement, Prakash suggested an idea. We thought about how best to present it, and it worked. Every man has a feminine side in him, and every woman has a masculine side in her. It’s like the concept of Ardhanarishvara. From birth, we have always observed women. Everyone has at some point taken a chain, worn it, and admired themselves in front of a mirror. In Vanaprastham, I myself played the role of Putana and performed a dance. Some may not have liked it. Some may have thought, ‘What’s the point of him doing this?’ But there is no issue with that. I have no regrets.

Many people get angry very quickly. I too feel anger, but I am usually able to control it. In that place, you can always bring in joy or love. Perhaps knowingly or unknowingly, I may have tried to do that many times. But this is not something possible only for me. We must try to overcome anger and jealousy; they serve no purpose. Yes, I too argue sometimes, but I don’t carry it in my heart. Once said, it’s over there itself. What’s the point of doing a post-mortem on it later? If someone says ‘Get lost’, I might also say ‘Get lost’ back. But I won’t keep thinking later, ‘He told me to get lost.’

No matter how busy we are, it’s possible to find time to be alone. If you ask me how I discovered that way, I honestly don’t know,” Mohanlal said.