From taking on Kamal Haasan in Vikram to facing off Allu Arjun in Pushpa: The Rise, Fahadh Faasil is rapidly overshooting his reputation as one of the best actors in the Malayalam film industry to a pan-India star. With the success of films from the southern part of the country and the rising influence of OTT platforms, performers like him are attracting attention.

There aren’t many things that Fahadh can’t say with his eyes that he can with his mouth. The 39-year-old is one of those actors who have gathered a distinct fan base for their eyes. The colour of his eyes varies from hazel to light brown, depending on the lighting conditions, making it difficult for the audience to look away.

Who is Fahadh Faasil?

Born Abdul Hameed Mohammed Fahad Fazil on August 8 in 1982, Fahadh is an actor and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam films, and has done some Tamil and Telugu films as well.

His father is the prominent Malayalam filmmaker Fazil and his wife is Malayalam actress Nazriya Nazim, whom he met on the sets of Anjali Menon’s Bangalore Days.

Fahadh has acted in over 50 films and has received several awards, including a National Film Award and four Kerala State Film Awards. His film career began when he was 19, with the romantic film Kaiyethum Doorath (2002), directed by his father. The film was panned by both critics and the public, and his performance was dubbed disastrous.

Fahadh moved to the US to study at the University of Miami after this setback. When he returned home five years later, a new wave had already hit Malayalam films, where several upcoming filmmakers in Kerala were looking to embrace the cinematic exploration of reality.

In 2009, seven years after his debut, Fahadh made his comeback with the short film Mrityunjayam as part of the anthology film, Kerala Cafe. In 2012, he received critical acclaim and recognition for 22 Female Kottayam and Diamond Necklace.

The year 2013, however, was the real turning point in Fahadh’s career as he was part of a string of important films, like cinematographer Rajeev Ravi’s directorial debut Annayum Rasoolum, Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Amen, V.K. Prakash’s Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla, Salam Bappu’s directorial debut Red Wine, Anil Radhakrishnan Menon’s North 24 Kaatham and Sathyan Anthikad’s Oru Indian Pranayakatha.

Since then, Fahadh has cemented his position as one of the stalwarts of the Malayalam industry not only as an actor but also as a producer. He has produced and appeared in seminal films like Madhu C. Narayanan’s Kumbalangi Nights (2019) and Mahesh Narayanan’s C U Soon (2020).

While he is very impressive as a menacing villain in the action blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise, here are five films to watch to discover the brilliant performer that Fahadh is:

Njan Prakashan (2018)

In director Sathyan Anthikad’s Njan Prakashan, Fahadh plays Prakashan, an educated but irresponsible young man looking for a quick road to success and who refers to himself as P.R. Akash. Fahadh depicts the metamorphosis of a callous and remorseless individual into a somewhat decent human being. This is a charming character study that doesn’t abandon the plot entirely but digs deep into the human condition.

Watch on: Netflix / Prime Video

Kumbalangi Nights (2019)

Debutant director Madhu C. Narayanan’s Kumbalangi Nights is a gem in the rather impressive vault of Malayalam cinema. This is a family drama that attempts a poignant social commentary and dissection of the male psyche. Fahadh embodies the mystery of Shammi with perfection. The cold stares, compensating grins and the facade of hypocrisy that Shammi hides behind probably wouldn’t have been that effective without him.

Watch on: Prime Video

Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016)

Maheshinte Prathikaram is realistic and elegant, and at the end of the film, you will be smiling. Mahesh, played by Fahadh, runs his father’s photography studio in Idukki. He is well-liked by the residents of the community. A seemingly simple nudge becomes a public humiliation for him, which he intends to avenge. This is possibly the sweetest revenge story, told with great humour, romance, snappy stunts and a charming performance by its leading man.

Watch on: Prime Video

North 24 Kaatham (2013)

Anil Radhakrishnan Menon’s directorial debut North 24 Kaatham is a road film that tracks the transformation of its protagonist. Fahadh plays a person suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). As a self-absorbed, unempathetic, smart techie who is uncomfortable even around his own family, Fahadh is simply awesome.

Watch on: Disney+Hotstar

Trance (2020)

Directed by Anwar Rasheed, Trance focuses on the meticulous business methods that go into the creation of a deity-like figure. As a motivational speaker who becomes involved in a web of religion and deception, Fahadh pulls off yet another magnificent act as the character unravels and his mental state deteriorates. It’s also fun to observe Fahadh’s on-screen chemistry with his real-life wife, Nazriya Nazim.

Watch on: Prime Video