The villain in ‘Amar Akbar Antony’ doesn’t have a lot of reel time or a single line of dialogue; yet it’s a face that sends chills down your spine. And Shafiqu Rahiman, who played the role, is a happy soul despite all freaky reactions coming his way. “I feel so happy and proud to be part of a film that carries a very strong message. If people treat me with dread and hatred it shows the success of my character” says the actor.
Shafiqu says acting is a passion he just can’t resist, the very reason he quit a high-paying job in Dubai for the film. “After the audition I was almost approved by the crew. But then I was informed that they are looking for a more senior actor, perhaps somebody from the North. Somehow the recasting didn’t work out and I was taken back on board. By that time I had joined a bank in Dubai, but I had no qualms leaving that job for pursuing my dream career,” he says.
Shafiqu says post the release of ‘Amar Akbar Antony’, he has been getting all types of feedback. “I was watching the film with my wife and three daughters at Lulu Mall. During the interval a man started abusing me in the obscenest language I have ever known. People were trying to convince him that I am not the Bengali in the film, but a Malayali actor. Now it seems funny but that time it was really embarrassing,” says the actor.
Clad in a tight-fitting tee and trousers, Thappan might be the creepiest villain Mollywood has seen of late. Shafiqu says getting into the garb of the dirty-looking immigrant labourer was not a difficult task. “I was confident from the very beginning that Thappan could make an impact. I was asked to pierce my ear and colour my hair. And for the pan eater’s teeth they used gum and stain. I think I looked my part because there were real immigrant labourers among junior artists and they kept talking to me in their language,” he says.
The actor doesn’t mince words when he says ‘Amar Akbar Antony’ is the first break in his acting career. “I have been here for quite a while. I first faced camera as a child artist for ‘Pookkalam Varavayi’ and after completing my studies I turned to modelling. After ramp shows and albums, films seemed like a natural choice. Then I worked as a junior artist for a string of films until I got some good characters in a couple of films,” he says. In ‘Oru Soppetty Katha’ released in 2013 he was one of the two heroes. “I was also part of Celebrity Cricket League those days. Post Amar Akabr Antony I am getting some good offers. You will soon see me as part of some really nice projects,” he winds up.