Angamaly’s own Vincent Peppe is here to stay. Antony Varghese, the ruggedly handsome young actor who is the latest and most promising entrant to Mollywood , says he too is ‘katta local’ like the character he played.
“When I first met director Lijo Jose Pellissery and Chemban Vinod, I looked very weary and unkempt. It was raining and I was drenched. They must have thought I suited the character,” quips Antony who made his debut in Angamaly Diaries.
The actor says he had done quite a few short films and aspired to be an actor but debuting in a Lijo Pelissery film was beyond his wildest dreams. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I am just overwhelmed. It never occurred to me that I would have a debut too soon,” he says.
Lijo and scriptwriter Chemban Vinod Jose had seen Antony’s short film ‘Baliyadu’ when he got a call from the duo asking to audition for the film.
“I gave almost four auditions. But, I really didn’t have much hope. I was planning to move to Singapore for a job. So, when they asked me to go meet them again, I wasn’t very enthusiastic because I was sure I blew the auditions,” he adds. “I had many friends in Maharaja’s College who are into film making. So, I was hoping that I could ask for a role in their movies. But, god obviously had other plans,” says Antony.
However, even after he was chosen to play Vincent Peppe, Antony didn’t know it was the lead character. “Only when I read the script did I understand that I was playing the lead,” he says. The first 15 days of the shoot went well. “The first 15 days was fun. We all were newcomers and supported each ther well. But, after the action sequences, I got physically unwell to the extend that it began to affect my work. But, the response and appreciation makes it all worth,” says Antony.
He is all praise for his director. “Lijo is someone who puts his crew members at ease. The script was solid. Dialogues came across a bit difficult but Lijo gave us the freedom to do it our way. His only condition was we shouldn’t act, but behave,” says Antony. Many offers are coming his way, but Antony says he is busy with the promotions of the movie. “Thankfully, a lot of people are calling. I look forward to doing good work,” he winds up.