Actor Dulquer Salmaan recently shared his acting philosophy and the influence of his father and Malayalam superstar Mammootty during the promotions of his upcoming period drama ‘Kantha’. In an interview, Dulquer revealed how his father’s words continued to guide his approach towards performing.

During a conversation with journalist Sudhir Srinivasan, Dulquer recounted how his co-stars, Rana Daggubati and Bhagyashree Borse, jokingly called him “the king of acting”. However, the actor shrugged off the compliment with typical humility. “My father once told me, ‘Only a great actor can overact’, and I don’t believe I’m a great actor. I don’t think I ever overact. Maybe I’m underacting.”

Dulquer further explained that he avoids exaggerated acting, even in roles that may require high expressions. Referring to his role in ‘Kantha’, he said, “I think my meter is always lower than normal. No matter how much I try to overact in this film, I don’t think it will reach the cartoonish level.”

He also admitted that being described by his peers as a “great actor” or a “phenomenal actor” sometimes made him uncomfortable. “It’s scary when people say that to me because I know my strengths and weaknesses,” Dulquer said. He emphasized that he prefers to let his work speak for itself rather than focusing on labels.

As ‘Kantha’ is set to release on November 14, Dulquer, along with co-producer Rana Daggubati, is busy promoting the film in the states. The trailer of the film received a great response from the audience for its uniqueness. However, it remains to be seen whether this appreciation will translate into ticket sales once the film is released.