But given the onslaught of serious roles in his career, does Suraj miss doing comedies? “Comedy is my absolute favourite genre, and I do miss it. Even recently, Mohiniyattam has been doing really well, but yeah, as an actor, I love being challenged. After 275-odd films in Malayalam, I still have the urge to learn. We must travel with cinema, and wait for the right detours. Most importantly, the thirst for challenge and risk-taking is paramount for an actor. Never settle,” says Suraj, who was also part of the recent runaway success, Youthwhich allowed him to flex his comic skills in Tamil.
Reinventing himself for a new audience has clearly been a high for Suraj, who is reveling in the kind of projects that are coming his way from outside Kerala. The actor also points out that he was initially concerned about taking on projects in a different language, but the audience reminded him of an important tenet of cinema. “When I used to visit Sabarimala, I had non-Malayali audiences asking me when I’d act in films of their language. Huge credit goes to OTT for making me reach these many fans, and even bigger love for the fans who told me, ‘Language shouldn’t be a barrier.’ If they are ready, why should I refrain myself?” asks Suraj, who reveals that it has made his acting process different, but that’s the price he is willing to pay. “I write my dialogues in Malayalam, learn its meaning, practice it multiple times, and for a change, I am not flustered when there is time between shots.”
If OTT gave him a new audience, it was social media that cemented his legacy. Various characters from his filmography, including Dashamoolam Damu, continue to live on in stickers and memes, and Suraj takes a moment to thank them before signing off, “While doing those characters, I never thought it would be remembered for so long. Big salute to the troll pages, and I owe a lot to such social media creators for keeping me relevant through everything, and not just an overnight sensation.”
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