Prakash Varma, a towering figure in the advertising world for decades, was widely recognised last year for his role in the Mohanlal blockbuster Thudarum. In the film, he played the villainous George sir, a character so commanding that he levelled up to the protagonist Shanmughan, portrayed by the indomitable Mohanlal. Since then, many have come to refer to him as George sir.

Speaking at MBIFL 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram, Varma admitted that hearing the name (the refernce of George sir) feels a litte ‘unsettling’ now. “It is heartening, however, to see the character of George sir grow beyond me as an individual. Instead of being hated for the villain I played, I have been receiving the love of audiences for months. That shows the character has truly worked,” he said.

When asked about his upcoming projects, Varma explained: “Among the many advertising commitments I have, I choose projects that I can manage. One of my commitments, the reason I agreed to the film is because of the director, Ranjith, who is an exceptional storyteller. I am enjoying the process of working with him. It is an ordinary film, not a character with negative shades. Ranjith has provided me the space to perform differently, and that’s what I am focusing on. For now, that’s all I can say about the new project.”