🎬 My Unexpected Debut: Finding My Voice in ‘Echoes’
My journey into the world of acting began with a completely unexpected phone call—a call that proves you never know where life, or an old friend, will take you.
🌟 The Call That Started It All
My first acting experience was in the short film, “Echoes,” directed by my school friend, Mr. Aravind Ashok. What makes this special is that Aravind and I hadn’t been in touch for a solid four years after we left school.
The connection was reignited by a film that inspired us both: the release of the movie Jigarthanda. Aravind called me up shortly after and simply asked, “Can we do a short film?”
At the time, my main creative outlet was making short vines on Instagram Reels, so the idea of a fully-fledged short film felt like a leap—a leap I was ready to take.
🎠Stepping Into Jerin’s Shoes
“Echoes” was the perfect start for an aspiring actor like me. I was cast as the character Jerin, a role that was rich with complexity and offered significant performance space.
Jerin was dealing with a lot:
- He was living away from his parents.
- He was battling serious financial issues.
- He was navigating a difficult, ‘rude’ phase of his life.
For an aspiring actor, getting to tackle a role with so many layers was a great opportunity—truly the best I could have asked for. Aravind, as the director, had a crystal-clear vision for Jerin, which gave me a solid foundation and a lot of confidence to deliver my best performance.
đź‘Ź The Silence and The Applause
Every step in an actor’s journey counts, but there are some moments you never forget.
During the shoot, there was a particularly intense scene where Jerin has a major breakdown. I poured everything I had into that moment. When I finished the take, the entire crew, which had been silent, suddenly erupted into applause.
That moment—that very first round of applause I received as an actor—was electrifying. It was an affirmation that I was on the right path.
This entire experience, from the unexpected call to the final clap, has been special. It reinforced my belief that every character and every project is important. This journey has just begun, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.