Actor Saiju Kurup has completed 20 years in the film industry, marking two decades since his debut in Mayookham. The milestone was celebrated with a brief function on the sets of his upcoming film Aaram, where the cast and crew gathered to honour the actor’s journey in cinema. Crew members of the upcoming film organised a small celebration during the shoot, with Saiju cutting a cake amid warm applause from his colleagues. The gesture, the team said, was a mark of appreciation for his steady and enduring presence in Malayalam cinema.

Since his debut in 2005, Saiju has featured in over 100 films across Malayalam and Tamil, taking on a wide spectrum of roles, from leading man to antagonist and character parts. While his entry into films came with the Hariharan directorial Mayookham, it was over the years that he gradually carved out a space for himself with performances that struck a chord with audiences. From comic turns to emotionally layered characters, Saiju has built a reputation for reliability and range.

In Aaram, a crime thriller written by Vishnu Ramachandran, Saiju plays a police officer. The film is directed by Rajeesh Parameswaran and presented by Junaiz Babu Good Hope, who also handles production and distribution. The cast also includes Siddique, Askar Ali, Sudheesh, Anju Kurian, Shaheen Siddique, Dinesh Prabhakar, Gokulan, Manoj K U., Vinod Kedamangalam, Eric Adam, Meera Vasudev, Surabhi Santhosh, Harith, Appunni Sasi and Unni Lal.

The makers of Aaram had earlier marked another milestone on the same sets, celebrating veteran actor Siddique’s 40 years in cinema.

Meanwhile, Saiju’s upcoming slate also includes Midhun Manuel Thomas's biggie Aadu 3, slated to hit theatres on March 19, Krishnadas Murali’s Mohiniyattam, scheduled to release on April 10, and MA Nishad's Lurk.