Dulquer Salmaan has built a career that stands firmly on his own, moving beyond the shadow of his superstar father Mammootty to become one of Malayalam cinema’s most recognisable names across India. However, his acting journey could have started several years earlier than it eventually did.As Dulquer prepares for the worldwide release of his upcoming film ‘I’m Game’, a revelation by filmmaker Shyamaprasad has brought an interesting piece of the actor’s early career back into focus. The director disclosed that Dulquer was once considered for his 2009 film ‘Ritu’, a project that played an important role in the changing landscape of Malayalam cinema.
Dulquer’s debut could have happened before Second Show
Dulquer eventually made his acting debut with Srinath Rajendran’s ‘Second Show’ in 2012. The gangster drama did not follow the conventional template of a commercial action film and was among the movies associated with the emerging new-generation wave in Malayalam cinema.However, according to Shyamaprasad, the actor was initially expected to enter the industry through ‘Ritu’, which arrived three years before ‘Second Show’. The film was among a group of Malayalam movies that helped introduce a different style of storytelling and contributed to the transformation that eventually became more prominent with films such as ‘Traffic’.
Shyamaprasad recalls meeting young Dulquer
According To SCREEN, speaking at the pre-release event of ‘I’m Game’, Shyamaprasad remembered his connection with Dulquer from the time he was working with Mammootty on ‘Ore Kadal’.“I’ve known Dulquer for a long time. When I was shooting Ore Kadal (2007) with Mammootty in Chennai, Dulquer was young, and he used to come play cricket nearby. I was supposed to cast him in my film Ritu. It was almost there, but it didn’t happen, unfortunately.”‘Ritu’ eventually introduced audiences to several young performers, including Asif Ali, Rima Kallingal, Nishan and Vinay Forrt, many of whom went on to establish themselves in Malayalam cinema.
Why Dulquer chose I’m Game
More than a decade into his career, Dulquer is now approaching his 40th film as a lead actor with ‘I’m Game’. At the film’s pre-release event, he explained that his approach to selecting roles has changed, particularly when a script pushes him beyond his comfort zone.“Some time back, I made a decision that I would attempt roles I am most afraid of from now on. If it feels familiar, I might take it lightly. Now, when I hear a script and it makes me think, ‘How will I do this?’ I take it on. When I heard I’m Game’s narration, I got scared, thinking about how I would pull it off.”The actor also credited Antony Varghese Pepe for playing a crucial role in the project and described him as “the true hero of I’m Game.”“He is like my brother and came to work in the movie as soon as I called,” Dulquer said.
Dulquer praises Kayadu Lohar and Nahas Hidhayath
Dulquer also had words of appreciation for Kayadu Lohar, who is part of the film’s cast. He highlighted her acting abilities while discussing the challenges that can come with being perceived primarily for one’s appearance.“We call Kayadu ‘Dudu’ because we didn’t know how to pronounce her name correctly. As Mysskin sir said, being pretty might be a disadvantage for her, as people might think she’s too pretty for roles. But she is a strong performer as well.”The actor described director Nahas Hidhayath’s film as his “most ambitious film” and revealed that it was the filmmaker’s first script.“This film is an absolute Onasadya (Onam feast). It has all the ingredients. He’s cooked it with great effort.”
Dulquer Salmaan’s next release
Directed by Nahas Hidhayath, ‘I’m Game’ is an action thriller that brings together Dulquer Salmaan, Antony Varghese Pepe and Kayadu Lohar. The film is being positioned as an ambitious project for the director and marks another challenging role for Dulquer.‘I’m Game’ is scheduled to release worldwide on September 3, 2026. Its OTT platform has not been officially announced yet.
