From designing posters to acting: Why Malayalam actor Aneesh Gopal is making heads turn

Aneesh Gopal took a break from his acting career to establish himself designing posters

Actor Aneesh Gopal welcomes the recognition that has come his way after the release of Bhramam. “It has taken time, but now some more people know my name,” says Aneesh. “Usually, I am that ‘curly-haired guy’ from Theevandi. Every actor craves recognition. Isn’t it the pay-off that drives us all? This is the recognition I have craved for the past 12 years.”

Getting here has been hard. The first film he acted in was Second Show in 2012. A love for films brought him to Kochi from Malappuram. The director of the film, Srinath Rajendran, and writer, Vini Vishwa Lal, are his friends. “They knew that I acted in plays while in school and college, so they asked me to do a role in it.” They also asked him to design the film’s poster since he was a graphic designer.

“Cinema is my dream; it has always been. But I realised that it was a fickle industry in which there are no guarantees. You might or might not make it, so one needs a backup. I could not chase my dream without a career, as my family depended on me.”