I WILL MAKE IT ON MY OWN' Dulquar Salman

I WILL MAKE IT ON MY OWN'

Superstar Mammootty's son, Dulquar Salman, hopes to make a mark in the film industry without much help from his dad

Ammu Zachariah

Mollywood is gearing up to welcome a host of star kids this year and the most popular among the coveted circle is Dulquar Salman, son of Mollywood superstar Mammootty.
For someone who has been closely guarded from the public eye for so many years, Dulquar seems to have arrived on the scene with a bang. The youngster has bagged a handful of interesting projects even before the release of his debut. It didn't take Dulquar too long to understand that his heart lies in the creative field. Even as a business student, he explored filmmaking by making short films which were screened at film festivals.
Considering his choice of debut, Second Show, it would not be wrong to assume that the newbie may have a definite plan for his career. "There were various films that were offered. But I wanted to ensure that my debut was not run-ofthe-mill. I felt there was something honest about this script," he reveals.
Dulquar feels that the fact that the team was full of freshers in almost every department added to the experience. "It was a 'first time' for many on the sets. We learned together, made mistakes together. We had a great time, so much so that it did not even feel like work," he says.
Considering that he is Mammootty's son, it is obvious that there are huge expectations surrounding the youngster. "My dad does not believe in getting into the details of everything that I take up. If I like a script, I do tell him a bit about the film. While I would like to make it on my own, my dad also reasons out that when he entered the film industry, he had nobody around to guide or launch him. Likewise, he prefers to let me find my own place in the industry. In fact, we have also decided not to appear together at public functions," he says. However, it still is a tough task to not compare the youngster to his famous dad. Quite like Mammootty, Dulquar too is a fiercely private person. "People have started recognising me on the streets. I am yet to come to terms with the fact that I am an actor. I miss being just another guy that I was when I w a s studying in Chennai," says the upcoming actor.
ammu.zachariah@timesgroup.com