In his salad days, he used to lift weight and has won medals for his college and district. Later, his heavy-weight fiery dialogues set the screen on fire. But, he stayed away from the scene for a while.
Then, like one of his most-reverberated one liner ‘Ormayundo Ee Mukham’?, Renji Panicker returned in a new avatar, as an actor.
Today, acting has made him more acceptable than his earlier roles, as journalist, poet, screen play writer, producer, director and even a newspaper editor.
Says Renji Panicker: “May be, all these elements helped me gain thisnew-found acceptance. There was a curiosity factor on how Rejni Panicker can act,” says the former weight lifting champion shrugging off the weight of his ‘stardom’.
Speaking from the sets of his new film by Sathyan Anthikkad at Edappally, Renji Panicker chose to play down his acting career. “It was not pre-planned, it just happened,” he says.
Though he used to do cameo appearances in films written by him and directed by Shaji Kailas, his innings as an actor started only with ‘Pakida’ which he did on actor Biju Menon’s request. Then came Dr Mathew, the lovable of dad of Nazriya in ‘Om Santhi Osanna’.
The film went on to become a top grosser and soon the Renji Panicker was the ‘darling dad’ of youngsters, many of whom were yet to be born when he was churning out hits, one after another. “It definitely widened his popularity and I enjoy the company of youngsters,” he said.
Then came the biggest ‘shocker’ in acting career, which according to him was borne out of friendship. He was unsure of Valanchery Kutty Shankaran, the elite anti-national, when his long-time friend Renjith asked him to join ‘Njaan’. That too when he was doing a ‘soft role’ in Munnariyippu.
Contrary to his fears, Renji’s portrayal of the feudal land lord earned him accolades from various quarters.
“Though every one, including Renjith, was supportive and appreciative of my acting, I had apprehensions as the character was heavy and crucial. However it all waned when I started receiving reactions from viewers. On the day after release, Mammootty congratulated me saying it was excellent. It was exceptional comment from a man who knew me for long,” said Renji.
According to him, among all his roles, it is that of the writer that is close to his heart.
“The job of an editor needs more responsibility. I could not have done any thing, if continued as an editor,” he said of the job which he relinquished an year ago.
Though acting is not his cup of tea, there is a flood of offers and he chooses only a handful, the ones which really demands his presence as an actor. ‘Picket 43’, ‘Aadu oru Bheekara Jeeviayanu’ are his future projects .
So when will he break the hiatus as a writer director? “I have started writing. It will hit the screens next year,” says Renji.