Hridhu Haroon became widely recognised for his role in All We Imagine As Light, the winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival this year. With Kappela-famous Muhammad Musthafa’s sophomore directorial, MURA, the young star, who made his big screen debut with the Hindi web series Crash Course, is now poised to win over Malayalis.
Hridhu talks with OTTplay about his collaboration with Payal Kapadia on All We Imagine As Light and how the Indo-French movie improved his performance in MURA.
With Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, you gained recognition on a global scale. What would you say about your part in the project?
I am proud of myself and am always reminded that I had the opportunity to contribute to such a beautiful and skilfully made movie. The film is being discussed and praised by moviegoers all over the world. This project, which began around seven years ago, is the result of a great deal of sincere labour.
Though I became a part of it in the last few years, it gave me a fantastic opportunity to learn about the beauty of film and improve as a performer. Payal is focused and understands exactly what she wants from each performer, so you can’t deceive her with a subpar performance. Prior to the shoot, we attended workshops, which significantly improved the way we performed. All We Imagine As Light, which came right before MURA, was a big influence in helping me realise what I am doing as an actor and what I need to concentrate on.
Due to the fact that both your sister and father are involved in film production, you are acquainted to the industry. Has that factor significantly influenced your decision to pursue a career in film?
We routinely meet people from the industry and talk about films a lot when we are together at home. My family has been lucky enough to provide me a hazy understanding of the art since my childhood. It fuelled my drive to study more about film techniques, which I would love to do in the future, in addition to my passion for acting.
MURA would mark your debut in Malayalam. How exciting was the project for you?
It was just as thrilling as All We Imagine As Light or any other production I worked on, but as you mentioned, this would be my first leading role in a Malayalam movie. One could characterise MURA as a genuine project with a dedicated crew at its core. With this film, several actors and technicians are making their debuts. Because of the rawness of the story and characters, it is more than just a commercial mass action drama; it is a film that is sure to delight viewers.
Your acting career started in the digital world. Given the numerous chances it created, how did it work out for you?
Indeed, in a positive way! The biggest advantage of the introduction of digital platforms is that there is no longer a language barrier. I may explore my options in other industries even if there comes a time when I won’t have many opportunities in Malayalam.
The quality of content offered on these platforms is improved by the presence of veteran actors in addition to the younger ones. Because of the reach of this medium, I was able to work in both Tamil and Hindi. Additionally, because of this, regional films are attracting the attention of moviegoers worldwide, and actors and technicians are travelling across borders to increase their exposure to the art form.
Where do you see yourself in the next few years in the film industry?
I have no doubt that in a few years, I’ll be more than just an actor; I will also try my hand at other technical facets of the film industry. I want to learn editing, but working with talented filmmakers and their teams will come first. This will help me hone my abilities and gain a deeper understanding of the craft.
In addition to being a part of Vetrimaaran’s production titled Bad Girls, I recently auditioned for a Netflix series. Someday, I hope to work along with Dileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil, and Lijo Jose Pellissery. I had previously told Lijo sir about this desire at a recent awards ceremony.
This post was originally published on here
