Actor Asif Ali talking to Gulf News in Dubai.

Gulf News

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Transcript

00:00Good afternoon, this is Manjusha Radhakrishnan from Gulf News, I'm the entertainment editor

00:10and today it gives me great pleasure to introduce Asif Ali, the Malayalam heartthrob I must

00:14say, hunk of an actor who is there to promote his latest movie which is releasing next week

00:21in the UAE cinemas, it's called Adios Amigo, it's about friendship or a road trip, what

00:27is it about Asif? As the name shows, it's about a friendship, it's a road movie, it's

00:37a road trip and again it's about two people who accidentally meet in a very awkward situation

00:46and it's kind of a fun entertainer, yeah that's it. That's good and it's got the Suraj Venniar

00:54mode which I have to say is like one of our favourite actors, what was the chemistry like

00:59between you two? Do you guys get along even otherwise? Actually, it was a very huge surprise

01:05for me because this is the first time we are doing a film together, we've been friends

01:13like you know, from 2012, we did a film called Best of Luck and we had a couple of scenes

01:24that's it and after like 10-12 years, we are doing a full length film, full length characters.

01:31So, I have always liked Surajettan, the way he used to, you know, Dasamool and Damu kind

01:42of characters, even I am a huge fan of that kind of characters and all of a sudden he

01:48changed into another level. So, finally I think he is portraying something similar to

01:56the Suraj Venniar mode that we used to like. Into the easy space now I think. His safe

02:03zone. His safe zone. As if I have to say, you are like a self-made actor, he's done

02:08so well and he's experimented a lot from playing characters with grey shades to playing, how

02:13do you choose your roles? Like, it's not easy right to make it in Malayalam film. I choose

02:18characters, I am not worried about the shades. I prefer, what attracts me is always the characters.

02:25Then comes the script, in that script, screen space, everything. For me, it's always ultimately

02:32the characters. That's why films like Kettulanal's Malaga and Haneebi. Haneebi is my favourite.

02:40It's an amaze, even now.

02:53And one thing about Asif Ali is that, he is in a movie, he doesn't have to play the central

02:58role. You always have to play, not all actors can do that right? Many actors will say, what

03:03is the length of my role? You don't seem to ask that question. Am I right?

03:10What attracts me is the characters. I have a specific space in it. People shouldn't

03:15ask me why I did this character. That's the only thing, that's the only criteria I

03:20have. If I feel that I haven't done my character in the narration, or if I feel it's a new

03:25character, even in my latest release, Level Cross.

03:28Level Cross, this is releasing this, I was supposed to come to you, with Amalapalli and

03:33you. I don't know, it didn't happen. But yes, Level Cross is a thriller.

03:37It's a drama thriller. It's a very slow poisoning kind of thriller.

03:43Slow burn.

03:44Slow burn. Yeah, that's the word.

03:46Arfa Sayyub was Jithu Joseph sir's associate. He told me about it.

03:53It's an international cinema. We can show it to any type of audience, in any language.

04:02That's how it happened. Being an actor, my big luck is that, this weekend's film and

04:09the next weekend's film, both are extremely, traveling in two directions.

04:15It's a blessing, right?

04:17It's a blessing.

04:18Getting choices and being able to choose.

04:21Asapalli, have you thought of exploring Bollywood as well? You know, because Prithviraj

04:26has gone producing. He's trying a lot. How about you?

04:31Or do you want to just be the king of Malayalam cinema?

04:34No, no, no. Not like that. Definitely, I want to explore it. If I get a good chance,

04:39I'll definitely do it. But till now, I haven't got an exciting offer or call.

04:47Are you telling the truth?

04:48I'm telling the truth.

04:49Okay, in case any Bollywood filmmaker is watching, then Asapalli is one of the best actors.

04:54Most underrated as well.

04:55I'm ready for an audition.

04:57That's very good. You're ready to audition even after many actors don't like to audition.

05:01It's an ego thing.

05:02That's how it should be.

05:03Ideally. Have you auditioned for a Malayalam film, like for this movie or any other film?

05:07I don't think Malayalam films need auditions because people have seen all our shades.

05:14Again, when it comes to Adios Amigos, I did a film with Thangam, the scriptwriter of this film.

05:23Kittulananda Malaga, supposed to be my best.

05:26Thangam gave me that.

05:28Thangam knows how I am.

05:32Again, Nahaas, the director.

05:34I've worked with him.

05:36Nahaas was in Andhra Karikamballam.

05:39Kittulananda Malaga was there.

05:41Oonda was there.

05:42Oonda was amazing.

05:43Thallumala was there.

05:45Nahaas has worked in all of them.

05:47I know Nahaas and Nahaas knows me.

05:49So, it came from a friendship.

05:51That's why there was no space for auditions.

05:53But, I always say that an artist should audition before casting.

05:58Ideally, yes.

05:59In an ideal world.

06:00But here, there's a lot of connection.

06:01Also, you're very popular, Asif.

06:03I'll tell you.

06:04I'll give you guys context.

06:05Just a few days ago, at an awards ceremony, a musician, an artist, kind of like, I think,

06:11told him.

06:12And there was a huge issue.

06:14But he, you handled that situation with such grace.

06:17You didn't talk about it, A.

06:18And you just told all the, you know, all his fans not to troll the other musician,

06:22who kind of, perhaps, may have insulted him, etc.

06:25I think, how did you learn such maturity?

06:27I would have gone on Twitter and be like, what is this?

06:30Told him back.

06:32I don't know.

06:33I'm not sure.

06:34That just happened.

06:35At that moment, I felt like I should reply to that.

06:40I felt like I should react to that.

06:42You know, that happened.

06:43It happened.

06:45And he even has a yacht named after him in Dubai.

06:49That is very funny.

06:50We were laughing.

06:51We had a group in Gulf News.

06:52And I was just sharing it with the Malaya Leaping.

06:54And they were all laughing.

06:55They were like, ah, this is really funny.

06:57Only happens in Dubai.

06:58How does it feel to have a yacht named after you?

07:01By a random…

07:02Yeah, I felt so honored.

07:04I felt special.

07:06I don't even have an auto rickshaw named after me in my hometown.

07:11But, it's not a big deal that a person felt such a desire,

07:16or that he was able to have such a feeling.

07:20That he had such a heart.

07:22But, I don't think I deserve such a big space.

07:26I don't think I deserve it.

07:28But, I'm so honored.

07:29Thank you so much.

07:30Normally, you have on the bus, you know, Sheena Mall.

07:33Asif Mall.

07:34Asif Mall.

07:36But, yacht is really like taking it forward.

07:39Let's make it a trend.

07:40I know you're really in a hurry, promoting stuff.

07:43Do you think, as you're a self-made actor,

07:46and how difficult was it to reach the space that you are having a name on a yacht?

07:52I don't know.

07:54When I think about it, the risk I took,

07:57and how much…

07:59How do I say?

08:00We don't know.

08:01I don't know.

08:02I can't explain.

08:03You can't explain.

08:04Okay, brilliant.

08:05But, you can definitely tell all our fans to watch your movie.

08:07That's how to show love, right?

08:08Please do watch my movie, Adios Amigos.

08:10It's releasing on 2nd of August.

08:12So, I'm looking forward.

08:14And, his Level Cross is also out today.

08:17Level Cross has reached the theaters.

08:19So, everyone go and watch it.

08:20Both are movies in two genres.

08:22An actor has come and acted in two genres.

08:25So, it's not a big deal.

08:27It's a huge blessing.

08:29Thank you so much.

08:30Thank God.

08:31I'm so happy.

08:32May all your movies…

08:33You made my day.

08:34Thank you so much.

08:35May all your movies come close by and be enjoyed.

08:36If you're in a movie, we'll watch it.

08:37Please do.

08:38I think that's your…

08:39I'll see you soon.

08:40Okay, bye.

08:41Bye.

08:42Bye.

08:43Bye.

08:44Bye.

08:45Bye.

08:46Bye.

08:47Bye.

08:48Bye.

08:49Bye.

08:50Bye.

08:51Bye.

08:52Bye.

08:53Bye.

08:54Bye.

08:55Bye.

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