Ahead of the release of Ashakal Aayiram on February 6, veteran actor Jayaram spoke candidly about his long break from Malayalam cinema during a recent session at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2026, with his son and co-star Kalidas Jayaram by his side.
Addressing a question many people have raised over the years, Jayaram acknowledged that his presence in Malayalam cinema has been limited since 2019. “People are asking correctly,” he said. “After 2019, I have done only two Malayalam films. One is Sathyan Anthikad’s Makal, and the other is Midhun Manuel Thomas’s Abraham Ozler. That’s it. Many people ask me why I’m doing supporting roles in other languages instead of acting more in Malayalam.” At this point, Kalidas jumped in, quipping, “You are making a lot of money,” drawing laughter from the audience and leaving Jayaram momentarily awkward.
Continuing more seriously, Jayaram explained that the break was not a conscious withdrawal but a matter of waiting for the right script. He said he did not want to take up films that didn’t feel like a “Jayaram cinema” audience expects. “I couldn’t find a film that I really wanted to do, something the audience would want to see me in. That changed when Jude (Anthany Joseph) came to me with this film,” he said, referring to Ashakal Aayiram. “People won’t say it’s bad if I do this film. They’ll say it feels like watching a Jayaram cinema. That’s what I’m hoping for.”
Ashakal Aayiram, directed by G Prajith, marks Jayaram’s fourth on-screen collaboration with Kalidas after Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal, Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum and Putham Pudhu Kaalai. The upcoming family drama explores a father–son relationship shaped by clashing dreams and realities.
Jayaram was last seen in Rishab Shetty's Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 as one of the antagonists, King Rajashekara, father of Kulashekara (Gulshan Devaiah) and Kanakavathi (Rukmini Vasanth).