I’m ready to shoulder bigger stories: Sudev Nair on evolving as an actor and expanding his horizons

Sudev Nair made a remarkable entry into Malayalam cinema, winning the Kerala State Award for Best Actor in his debut year for portraying a gay partner in M B Padmakumar’s ‘My Life Partner.’ Since then, he's navigated a career spanning South Indian industries and Bollywood with a deliberate, thoughtful approach. Now, he's back as Cop Antonio George in the upcoming series Kammattam, directed by Shan Thulasidharan.
In this conversation with Onmanorama, Sudev reflects on the intense shoot, his selective filmography, and the pan-Indian opportunities that have come his way — all thanks to Malayalam cinema.

How did you the team manage to complete an entire series in just 11 days?
Honestly, this kind of feat is only possible in the Malayalam film industry. The people here are so deeply committed to their craft that they’re willing to work with limited budgets, time constraints, and still deliver quality. I don’t think this could’ve happened anywhere else. In other industries, I may have been a bit pampered. But in Malayalam, it’s the constraints that push us to innovate. That’s why Malayalam cinema is being talked about across the country today — we’ve evolved through limitations into something truly respected.

For me, Malayalam cinema has always been a training ground. It’s where I learned everything. So yes, 11 days sounds crazy, but we compensated with long hours — sometimes even working 24 hours straight. The entire team pulled together to make it happen. It was exhausting, but also fulfilling.

Was that schedule especially challenging for you as an actor?
Absolutely. It tested both my mental and physical stamina. Filmmaking already demands the mindset of an athlete — but this was like running a sprint and a marathon at the same time. My roots are in student films, where I learned the basics. But this was different — it had to be polished and professional. That was my biggest concern: can we maintain quality in such a short span?
Thankfully, the director was extremely organised. He scouted locations that were just 2–3 minutes apart but visually very different. He had Plan A, B, and C ready for every possible scenario. That level of planning made the impossible possible.

Is the series based on a real-life story?
It’s inspired by real-life crimes — incidents that were widely reported in the news. But it’s not a direct adaptation; instead, those events have been creatively combined to tell a compelling story.

How different is this cop role from the ones you've played before?
Usually, when I play a cop, it’s a negative character or someone involved in a plot twist — like in Heaven, where I didn’t carry the film. This time, it's different. The character isn’t negative, nor does he have the crutch of a dramatic twist or gimmick. The challenge was to make the character engaging without relying on those external supports. That’s what made this role exciting — and risky. I often questioned whether it would hold the audience’s attention. But we decided not to play it safe or try to ‘play to the gallery.’ We stayed honest to the story.

You've done several villain roles. Do you enjoy playing them?
I don’t particularly enjoy playing villains just for the sake of it. What I do enjoy is working with great directors and actors. Take Bheeshma Parvam, for example — the way my character was positioned gave it so much weight. It was the director’s vision that made the role stand out. When you have a strong framework like that, it helps you perform better. But as you grow, you want more. You want to carry a story, take on that responsibility. And now, I finally feel confident doing that.

You had an interesting start. Today, you do lesser hero roles. Are you being selective about your scripts?
Definitely. I learned early on that an academic award and audience approval are two very different things. Awards are validating, but winning over an audience takes time, effort — and a bit of luck. The film has to work. The timing has to be right. After I won the award, I had many well-wishers. I remember Johnny Sagarika offering me a hotel room just because I didn’t have a godfather in the industry. At that point, many people approached me with hero roles. It was tempting — but you have to be very conscious, because most of those films turn out badly. You do three or four, thinking you've ‘arrived’, and then you fade out. He had advised me: Do small roles, but work with established directors. That really stuck with me. And that’s been my approach ever since — choosing wisely.

How has your pan-Indian experience been so far?
It’s been a huge opportunity. The rise of pan-Indian cinema has been a boon for actors like me who enjoy experimenting with different genres and styles. For instance, the director of Devara saw me in Thuramukham, and I was cast in OG because of my role in Bheeshma Parvam. All of this — it happened because of Malayalam films. It’s this industry that gave me the visibility and the foundation. I genuinely enjoy working in Telugu films. There's a certain atmosphere on set — a kind of creative energy — that I feel aligns with me. It feels tailor-made, especially with all the action and larger-than-life characters.

Compared to Malayalam cinema, which is realistic and contained, Telugu films are loud, expressive, and indulgent — and I mean that in the best way. It's not just about comfort; it's about allowing yourself to fully give in to that world. And that’s a refreshing change for me as an actor.

Recovering after injury — and rediscovering storytelling
After a fall that left me injured and limping, I got back to the gym after just 15 days. I’ve been an athlete, so I understand how the body works. If you don’t use it, you lose it. I needed my brain and body to stay active, not become stationary. During that time, my parents came down to support me. It turned into a period of unexpected quality time, which I hadn’t had in a while. And because I wasn’t getting many acting offers then, I used that downtime to go back to writing — something I’ve always loved. That’s when TVF and Dice Media were just starting out, and they were looking for original content. I got involved in writing for series — and that kept my creative instincts alive.

Upcoming projects in Malayalam, Tamil, and more
In Malayalam, post-Kammattam, I’ve worked in ‘Udumbanchola Vision’, which is shaping up well. I’m also doing a major Tamil web series, slated for early next year. The film OG will release soon, and it’s a significant project for me. Yash-starrer ‘Toxic’ was also a rewarding experience for me.