Multilingual actor Shabeer Kallarakkal is making his Kannada film debut with
Bhairathi Ranagal in which he has a face-off with Shivarajkumar. About the movie, directed by Narthan, Shabeer says, “I have wanted to work in Kannada cinema ever since I watched
Lucia. I had the desire to be a part of this industry long before
KGF and
Kantara happened. Like Malayalam cinema, I feel that Kannada cinema is producing great content and has also opened up a plethora of opportunities for artistes like me. It’s wonderful to work in Sandalwood. People are very warm and welcoming.”
On being pitted opposite Shivarajkumar in
Bhairathi Ranagal, he says, “I can’t ask for a better debut as sharing screen space with Shivarajkumar is an amazing feeling. He is a super star, but he is also such a humble and down-to-earth person. There was a sequence during the shoot where I hit his foot by mistake, he immediately said it’s not my mistake which shows the kind of person he is.”
Shabeer, who is playing the role of Ghatta in the film, says, “Narthan has an eye for detail, and that shows in the way he has etched out every character. On working in films across south languages, Shabeer tells us, “More than the languages, I am happy to work with versatile directors who are shaping me as an actor. Exploring different dialects, culture and lifestyle makes me learn so much and makes me a better actor. As for the choice of characters are concerned, I feel my role should contribute to the story, irrespective of the screen space that I get. Also, a film backed by a good production house ensures that it reaches a wider audience.”