‘Popular director refused to cast me in hit film’, was very sad, finally role was offered’

Actor Harishree Ashokan said that he will never forget the character played in the hit film Punjabi House. He said acting in the film brought major changes in his life. He also said people watching the film only once will not understand the character of Ramanan. He shared these things in an interview granted to a YouTube channel.

'Jagathy Sreekumar is a king then and now. I have never seen an actor like him. He also brought changes in his acting according to each era. I will never forget my character of Ramanan in Punjabi House. Even actress Vidya Balan imitated Raman. Many had sent me the video of it.

It was a character that changed my life. Ramanan was not a funny character; it was a character that does not lie. Soon after hearing the story, I had told the director that it would be a superhit. Everyone decided and named my house ‘Punjabi House’.

The actor said that he had gone to a popular director over the casting of a film. He refused to cast me in his film and that made me very sad. The people who invited me told the director about me. They said I would do comedy well. They turned me down saying that my face suited to play villain roles. Finally, they asked me to do an emotional scene. My eyes were filled with tears as soon as I did that. So, I acted in that film. It was a hit film,' said Harishree Ashokan.