While Padmaraj inherited his father’s passion for food and cooking, the same influence didn’t quite extend to acting, perhaps because of his humble upbringing. Even when Ratheesh was at the peak of his career during the 80s and 90s, the family largely stayed away from the glamorous world of cinema. “My strongest memories of my father are of him as an agriculturist, running a farm in Cumbum. As far as I remember, Commissioner is the only film set I’ve visited. Staying away helped us remain grounded,” he says. Yet, the pull of cinema was inevitable. “My dad used to say I’d become an actor, but as a kid back then, all I wanted to be was a driver. But eventually, by high school, the acting bug bit me.”
Years later, a magazine interview with family after moving to Kerala landed Padmaraj his first film, Fireman. And that, too, as Mammootty’s villain. “They were looking for fresh faces. When they mentioned me to Mammukka, he immediately agreed,” he recalls. The two later collaborated again in Acha Dhinand Padmaraj fondly remembers the superstar’s warmth. “During a fight scene, I mistimed a move and hit him on the face. He was very calm and even joked, ‘It’s fine, I’ve given your dad a lot of these.’ He kept reassuring me.”
Though he acknowledges the privileges that come with his lineage, Padmaraj admits that he often feels its pressure. “The legacy is also a burden. I can’t do something just because my dad did it. I’m not here to repeat him, but carve my own path. It’s also not easy being a ‘nepo kid’ as people believe. In fact, nepo kids are the ones who feel the most pressure than anyone else,” he says. “Yes, you get access, but after that, it’s a different game. And it’s harder when the person you’re compared to is no longer around.”
With over a decade in the industry behind him and a lot of learning, Padmaraj now finds himself in a space of quiet contentment. “I’m happy where I am. I can now choose what I want to do, which wasn’t always the case. People say I should network more or chase roles, but I believe in destiny,” he says. “Life has taught me that. I’ll continue with my work. Be it acting or cooking — with utmost sincerity.”
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