'Patriot' actor Zarin Shihab calls Mammootty generous, reveals what makes Nayanthara a superstar

Actor Zarin Shihab, known for her performances in ‘Rekhachithram’ and 'Aattam’, plays an intriguing role in Mahesh Narayanan’s upcoming film ‘Patriot’, set to release on May 1. She describes the character as the most challenging role she has taken on so far, adding it is a more mature portrayal.

“It was challenging on multiple fronts, both in terms of process and appearance. The biggest challenge was maintaining continuity, especially given the extended shooting schedule. It was the first time I was involved in such a long schedule. In most of my earlier projects, I would have wrapped up with the shoot in two or three months. Overcoming all these challenges with such a great team was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot from this project as an actor,” said the actor on the key takeaways from the film.

On her co-stars
Zarin shares her admiration for her co-stars, particularly Mammootty. “He is an extremely generous co-actor. There have been instances in my previous work where I felt intimidated, especially in Hindi cinema, where I was often uptight around senior actors. It’s counterproductive for an actor, but with Mammootty, it was different. Of course, it’s Mammootty, and anyone would feel intimidated, but he made me feel at ease. I never felt the need to be perfect for him. There was no pressure. He really made me feel comfortable,” she said.
When it comes to Nayanthara, Zarin describes her as ‘incredibly observant’. “As an actor, I believe an important quality is what you do when you’re not on camera. Nayanthara is always in tune with what’s happening around her. She doesn’t rush back to her zone or caravan; she stays engaged and observes everything around her,” said the actor on the qualities that make Nayanthara a superstar.

Her expectations regarding a Mahesh Narayanan film
Zarin was excited about joining a Mahesh Narayanan project, having admired his work for years. “I’ve followed his work for a long time, and I kind of manifested myself into this project. I love how he’s incredibly detail-oriented. Being an editor, his storytelling comes from that lens. But it’s not alienating or overwhelming. Sometimes, when filmmakers are too detail-oriented, they often find it hard to communicate their requirement with the actor. Mahesh Narayanan is not like that. In fact, he’s great at hand-holding actors and making sure they understand what’s required. Even mistakes were never used to put me down,” she said.

Zarin, meanwhile, does not believe there is a ‘perfect shot’. “Perfection doesn’t happen in the first take, nor is it attained in the fifth or sixth take either. In fact, I don’t believe there are perfect shots. It’s about being open to learning, growing, and finding what works in the moment,” she added.

Her idea of patriotism
Zarin also shares her perspective on patriotism. "When you’re a kid, the national anthem becomes part of your routine, muscle memory. But the first time I truly felt a deep sense of patriotism was when I studied history, which is my favorite subject. Reading about everything the British did to our people and visiting archaeological monuments made me feel a connection to the building of our nation. Even after 50 to 80 years, those pieces of history stay with you. The biggest lesson, I think, is not repeating the same mistakes, but making new ones," she said.

She, however, cautioned people from becoming complacent. “I love my country for what it has given me, including the space to grow. Of course, the grass is greener on the other side, especially as a woman, where you get more freedom in some parts of the world. But there’s always something special about home. As citizens, we need to question the structures of power around us. If we don’t, we become complacent. We’re now living in a time where information from social media is shaping opinions, which can be dangerous,” she said.