Actor Zareen Shihab has quietly built one of the most interesting filmographies in Malayalam cinema. with deep uneasiness attam for precision ithiri neramShe has consistently been attracted to work that asks something of its audience. his latest, Patriot, Mahesh Narayanan’s espionage thriller starring two Malayalam icons Mammootty and Mohanlal is his most high-profile film till date.

IndiaToday.in We caught up with her for a chat about navigating that world, the pressure of performing alongside icons, and what she makes of mixed reviews.

Patriot brings together two of the biggest superstars of Malayalam cinema. What were your initial thoughts when this project came to you?

I got into it through an audition and when I found out that my part was linked to Mamooka (Mammootty), it was a little intimidating at first because I had only seen him on screen. I was just worried about what comparisons would come up. I just didn’t want anything bad to happen. You want to do your best out there.

But to be honest, he made me and everyone else really comfortable, be it a newcomer or a really experienced actor. Mammootty sir is an incredibly generous co-actor. I thought there was no need to take so much pressure.

How did you prepare for Dr. Ayesha Iqbal?

Ayesha as a character was inspired by real-life examples – dissidents and journalists in different parts of the world, and how her peers were taking the fight forward. An example was this journalist named Jamal Khashoggi – his partner was one of the inspirations for Ayesha. I watched some documentaries and interviews. It is quite inspiring how, despite not being with their partner, they move forward with a purpose larger than life.

Ayesha is not just a caregiver – she is a woman with agency and identity. It’s difficult to strike a balance in such a big film.

The character is also quite aged and mature, which is completely different from how I am in real life in terms of body language and looks. So it was a little difficult to complete it. There were some nuances that I actually learned from observation.

There was an instance where Mammootty sir told me that youngsters have a very different way of turning – they turn their heads first. But for a much older and more mature person, they turn to their stomach first, because that’s where the center is. Something so simple that brings a different kind of awareness to the body. I got a chance to explore the physicality of the character in a way that was new and interesting to me.

The Patriot received mixed reviews. Does it affect you?

it bothers me. I can see the film being talked about – not appreciated for the right reasons. First of all, it’s Mahesh Narayanan’s film, and I felt like it wasn’t respected or talked about enough. All these experienced actors really wanted to work with him and that’s why they signed on. He writes to serve the story, to serve the plot, and not for anything else. I think eventually the film will reach a bigger and better audience. It is a trial and error process.

In your case, attam Got recognition much later and on a different platform. How does it feel?

I like it. There are many difficulties in film production. There are a lot of films that never get released – they’re stuck in post-production, or there’s no distribution, and a lot of amazing films are just lost. I am just happy that my work is being released.

I also don’t want to take the position that ‘Oh, the audience doesn’t deserve this film.’ Ultimately, it’s the audience that makes or breaks a movie, and you’re making your movie for an audience, whether you’re telling the story as a director or a writer. You want people to see it. I don’t mind if there are negative or mixed reviews, as long as people are talking about the positives as well.

attam This clearly appealed to the female audience. How was it?

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The most overwhelming part was after the release – so many women came up to me and told me they found it very relevant. This put me in a very difficult situation because as an actor, you want your performance to reach more people. But I also know why it was relevant to most women. So I was very sad to see that. Women of all ages will reach out on Instagram with really personalized notes. There was a lot to learn from hearing it firsthand from so many people.

ithiri neram This was another quietly powerful film. Do you think it deserves more recognition?

It definitely happened, but I’m also okay. I feel like a lot of people find the subject matter a little uncomfortable, because it depicts a married man going out and seeking out his ex-girlfriend. I can understand why a lot of people didn’t really want to go deep into it. But I think that’s also a beautiful part of cinema, because it forces you to confront or delve deeper into things that are unfamiliar or uncomfortable. Maybe it’s not for everyone. But everyone who has seen the film has said really good things about it.

From your filmography it seems that quality over quantity has always been the guiding principle.

It hasn’t always been a conscious decision. After this I started to be a little more cautious about my choices attam. I hope to make an impact with every character rather than doing films continuously. after attamI waited for a long time. but then diagram Happened, where I played a villain. Filmmakers told me that there are not many female villains in Malayalam cinema or even Bollywood. He said, ‘Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of references to show you, but we would like to create this with you.’ I’m so glad he said that, because that was a great start.

after Patriot And AthiradiZareen Shihab’s upcoming movie is leftover. It is directed by Salim Ahmed and produced by Newton Films.