Bhagath Manuel to debut as scriptwriter through the film 'Mr Woman'

Be it comedy or serious character roles, Bhagath Manuel has always handled them in his signature style with élan. The artiste, who has been part of the industry for almost 11 years, is all set to debut as a scriptwriter soon.

In the upcoming comedy film

Mr Woman

, directed by Ginu James and

Mathson Baby

, Bhagath will be handling the script, with Biju Aryan. The actor also plays the lead role in the film, as a male chauvinist who eventually goes through a transformation.

Excited about testing a new turf, Bhagath tells us, “Ginu and Mathson approached me with their film, which had the story by Biju, sometime back. I felt that quite a few elements in it are interesting, and gave a few of my own inputs to reset it as a new story. That’s when they asked me, ‘Can’t you shape it up as a new script?’ and I agreed to it.”

The movie will see the reunion of some of the actors from Bhagath’s debut film

Malarvadi Arts Club

, like Aju Varghese and Harikrishnan, after all these years. Nandan Unni, Noby and Biju Kuttan are also part of the film. “We are also planning to rope in Johny Antony sir, Sreelakshmi and Naseer Sankranthi for the film. It will be a story in which even the small characters will be handled by talented artistes,” he says.

Bhagath had a script ready even before, he reveals, which he had narrated to Aju Varghese. “There was a plan to do it, but it’s not something we can handle in the times of the lockdown and budget constraints. So, we have kept it on hold. Aju too will be part of it,” says Bhagath. Is he also planning to wait and watch how his scripting debut goes, to decide on whether to make that film? “Oh, no,” says the actor with a smile. “I want to make it into a film, regardless of the outcome. I believe we should keep trying till the audience feels I have done a good script,” he explains.

Bhagath also has some exciting projects coming up on the acting front. “I’m doing a good, negative role in the Kunchacko Boban starrer film Bheemante Vazhi, directed by Thamasha director Ashraf Hamsa. I’m also playing a meaty role in V S Indu’s Vijay Sethupathi-Nithya Menen starrer 19(1)(A). My character is that of a school teacher, who is also active on the political front and in the regional library, and supports Nithya Menen’s character. My character also has a silent affection for her,” says Bhagath, who is thrilled he got to work with Vijay and Nithya. He reveals, “I was admitted in a Kochi hospital with fever, when I got the call to join

Vijay sir

that evening in Thodupuzha, for shoot. When I discussed it with my doctor, he said I can go for it at my own risk. I decided to do it, though my hands had many injection marks. I went for the shoot, completed it and came back to get hospitalised again in Kochi! But I’m glad I could work with Vijay sir, who is a great artiste and a down-to-earth human being,” Bhagath says.

Shibu Prabhakar, Ajith Kozhikode and

Tony Thomas

are the script assistants of the film.