You can’t name without proof: Shane Nigam opens up on ‘Balti’, fame and online targeting

Shane Nigam is a young actor who has won the hearts of Malayali audiences by portraying characters with depth. He began his career as a child artist and guest actor, eventually rising to prominence as a lead actor through the film Kismat, released in 2016.

Nine years later, Shane is now earning acclaim as a mass hero in Malayalam cinema. His performance in Balti, directed by Unni Sivalingam, is being hailed as something Malayali audiences have never before seen from him. The actor is thrilled about winning over family audiences through a full-fledged mass entertainer packed with songs, dance, action, and romance. In this conversation with Manorama Online, Shane opens up about the newfound acceptance following Balti and recent developments in his life.

Has Balti brought any changes to your life?
“Every day is a learning experience. It’s fair to say that Balti’s release has brought a significant change to my life. Little Hearts and Madraskaran were my releases before Balti, but they didn’t have a reach beyond a point. Balti came after a gap. Though it wasn’t promoted heavily, it had a decent release. I’ve been receiving a lot of messages on Instagram, but they’re not from the same people who messaged me before.

“This film was supported by a different audience than the one that supported my earlier works. And I don’t mean that negatively. It’s true that this movie helped me reach a crowd I wasn’t able to connect with before for some reason. It brought me closer to the general mass audience. Not every film is fortunate enough to reach family viewers or a wide spectrum of audiences. I see this as a surprise and a blessing.”

Among acting, dubbing, dialogue delivery and memorising, what do you find toughest in cinema?
“I find taking a film to the audience the most difficult. Publicity is tough. In today’s world, people’s attention is scattered. Drawing focus to a single film requires intense PR efforts. That’s something I don’t know how to do. I’m a bit of an introvert and never learned how to draw attention to myself. Balti wasn’t backed by a major PR campaign. It’s running purely on word of mouth. Producer Santhosh sir also doesn’t believe in aggressive PR. The film is growing organically and slowly; people are warming up to it.”

Your character in Kumbalangi Nights—‘he shouldn’t feel like he’s being taken to work’—is said to resemble your real-life personality. Was it that relatable?
“I feel Shyam chettan wrote that line for me intentionally. When we treat art like a corporate job, it becomes a burden. You can’t just switch it on and off. There has to be passion. If we only look at results like in a corporate setting, we miss out on good art. That’s what I believe. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t an industry. It’s just that it’s also 50% art.”

Have you ever asked anyone for a role? Is there someone you’ve wanted to work with?
“I’ve never asked for a role. Of course, I’d love to work with many people. But I haven’t approached them because every director has a vision for their next film. I’m here, and my films are releasing. They’ll offer me a role fit for me only if they’re genuinely interested. I’m waiting for that.”

What’s one thing you’ve learned from your father, both in acting and in life?
“Passion for art. Not just cinema, but art in general. When my father met his future wife, the one thing he asked was that he wanted his children to be acclaimed artists. He approached art with that kind of passion. He worked toward it. He was a stage artist and had made his mark. His dedication to art is what motivated me to achieve something as his son.”

Have you ever felt targeted?
“I can’t say yes or no with conviction because there’s no evidence. But people I trust have told me things. Even then, we shouldn’t speak without proof. I need evidence to fully believe it. In that sense, I’m unsure. I don’t know the source of online bullying. Sometimes it’s visible, even under posts when a film does well.

“Often, I’m the only one cut from posters. It happened not just with Balti, but with Haal too. Whatever it is, it’s personal. Balti’s producer, Santhosh sir, said he would pursue legal action to find out. He even posted about it on Facebook. If the truth comes out, it’ll give us clarity. That’s one thing. There’s more I could say. But if I speak without evidence, I’d be doing the same thing as those who targeted me. There’s nothing to show why I’m being targeted and why. Naming someone without proof would also be wrong.”

You’ve also ventured into production—Shane Nigam Films. How did that happen?
“Yes, I’ve stepped into production. Bhoothakaalam was produced under my banner. It was during the pandemic period when films were being released on OTT platforms. I wanted to do something for OTT but couldn’t find the right project. Then a guy called Rahul Sadasivan sent a short video about a potential subject to my mother’s phone. I liked it and contacted him. I heard the story. It worked for me. The next step was finding a producer.

Though it was a small-budget film, I couldn’t fund it alone. I started looking for financiers. During that search, I shared the subject with Ambooka (Anwar Rasheed) and asked if he knew someone who could produce it. After hearing the story, he agreed to invest. Unexpectedly, it became a joint venture. There’s no stress when someone like Ambooka is involved. He’s experienced. I felt safe in that sense, and then things just worked out.”