Rifle Club, an action drama helmed by Aashiq Abu, has achieved remarkable success at the box office, attaining superhit status. This multi-starrer film, featuring a diverse ensemble cast, has captivated audiences with its production quality and performances. Notably, Vineeth Kumar, a well-known actor and filmmaker, played a significant role in Rifle Club, earning acclaim from film enthusiasts for his outstanding performance.

In an exclusive interview with OTT Play, Vineeth Kumar shared his insights on Rifle Club, his experience joining Aashiq Abu’s ensemble cast, his shooting experiences, and more. Here are some highlights from the conversation.

Interview with Rifle Club actor Vineeth Kumar  

Joining the Rifle Club

In a conversation with OTT Play, Vineeth Kumar expressed that collaborating with Aashiq Abu, Syam Pushkaran, and their team was the highlight of his experience with Rifle Club. "I had not previously worked with director Aashiq Abu. I received a call from writer Suhas, who has collaborated with me in the past and is also a co-writer for Rifle Club. He inquired if I would be interested in portraying this character, provided my schedule allowed," the actor-director reminisced.

At that time, I was occupied with the post-production of my directorial project. However, I promptly agreed, as I have always aspired to collaborate with Aashiq Abu, Syam Pushkaran, and their team, Vineeth Kumar elaborated. "Some of my most cherished films in recent years have been produced by this team. Therefore, I was thrilled to receive this offer. I inquired only about the fundamental aspects of my character in Rifle Club, but I did not delve into the storyline or my character's role within it before accepting the project," he disclosed.

Shajahan in Rifle Club

Vineeth Kumar stated that the Rifle Club team depicted the film as a journey of his character, Shajahan. "Before arriving at the filming location, I possessed only a rudimentary understanding of my character—a romantic hero from the 1990s who aspires to transition into an action hero. However, upon my arrival, writer Syam Pushkaran and director Aashiq Abu significantly shaped my character, particularly in terms of my appearance and body language," Vineeth Kumar reflected.

Upon completing the first day of filming, I inquired whether my performance met their expectations, to which I received an overwhelmingly positive response. Aashiq Abu and his team were exceptionally supportive, and their feedback invigorated my performance. Shajahan is certainly one of the finest characters I have portrayed in my career, and this experience ranks among the best I have had in my life, remarked the actor-filmmaker.

Preparations for the role

Vineeth Kumar, who began his career as a child artist before evolving into a prominent actor and subsequently a filmmaker, expressed his gratitude for having experienced the various phases of Malayalam cinema. These significant experiences have greatly influenced his portrayal of Shajahan, a romantic protagonist from the 1990s, in the film Rifle Club.

The actor stated, "From a young age, I have had the opportunity to engage with numerous prominent stars, having begun my career as a child artist. These experiences may have influenced my performance in the film." Nevertheless, Vineeth Kumar clarified that he did not engage in extensive preparation for his role in Rifle Club, as he holds the view that characters should develop naturally as the actor begins to perform.

Collaborating with Aashiq Abu, the director of photography

The actor and filmmaker, who has been an integral part of the Malayalam film industry for over thirty-five years, expressed that two aspects particularly thrilled him regarding Rifle Club. Notably, Vineeth Kumar, who was eager to collaborate with Aashiq Abu and his team, was taken aback upon learning that the filmmaker would be overseeing the cinematography for the project himself.

"The fact that Aashiq Abu is handling the cinematography personally is the most thrilling element of Rifle Club for me. Although he has previously filmed a project titled Lovely, which has yet to be released, I was quite intrigued to see his approach to this film. Aashiq is an exceptional technician who has established a distinct identity for each of his films, all of which were shot by different cinematographers. Therefore, I was particularly eager to witness his cinematographic style in this instance," Vineeth Kumar disclosed.

Upon my initial arrival on set, I assumed that Aashiq Abu would be collaborating with a cinematographer for the film. However, I was mistaken. Aashiq chooses to operate the camera himself for all shots, including those taken with a crane. He personally managed the primary camera in a two-camera setup. Subsequently, I expressed my enthusiasm about this to Aashiq Abu and inquired about how he successfully embraced this new role. To my surprise, he disclosed that he had been preparing to assume the responsibilities of a cinematographer for quite some time, as recalled by the Rifle Club actor.

Ensuring the accuracy of the photographs

Vineeth Kumar shared an intriguing account of how director Aashiq Abu communicates his approval when the artists successfully capture their shots. "Aashiq tends to review each shot on the monitor, as he is directly involved in filming. Therefore, I refrain from seeking his feedback after my performances; instead, I pay attention to his reactions. Given that many of my scenes incorporate humour, he often smiles while watching the monitor, which serves as my feedback. Subsequently, I consulted Syam Pushkaran regarding the quality of my performance, and his encouraging responses bring me joy," the actor recounted.

Syam humorously remarked that Aashiq Abu has become increasingly unpredictable as a filmmaker, particularly since he directed the film himself. In the past, it was relatively straightforward to understand his vision for a specific scene when he communicated it to the Director of Photography. However, he has recently been consistently surprising his team with his creative decisions. Vineeth Kumar further emphasized that Aashiq is, without a doubt, an exceptional technician.

When the Rifle Club transitioned into a 'Friends Club'

Vineeth Kumar characterized the filming of Rifle Club as an exceptionally unforgettable experience, noting that the cast members genuinely created a ‘Friends Club’ during production. The well-known actor, who has participated in numerous ensemble films since the onset of his acting career, expressed his pleasure in spending time with fellow actors such as Dileesh Pothan, Vijayaraghavan, Surabhi Lakshmi, Suresh Krishna, and others on set.

He expressed that hearing actor-director Raffi's narrative was the most enjoyable aspect of their breaks. Vineeth Kumar, who noted that this enthusiasm was fully evident on the big screens, further mentioned that the cast members remain closely connected through their WhatsApp group, which they established during the filming.

Preferred presentations at the Rifle Club

Vineeth Kumar remarked that the Rifle Club features a comprehensive screenplay that distinctly defines each character. He expressed difficulty in selecting a single favourite performance from the film. Nevertheless, the actor-filmmaker noted that Dileesh Pothan's portrayal of Avaran caught him off guard at certain moments.

Every actor delivered an outstanding performance; however, Dileesh Pothan's portrayal of Avaran stood out as particularly remarkable. He skillfully captured the character's essence throughout the film, prompting me to reach out to him after viewing Rifle Club for the second time. The humorous moments, along with the scene where Unnimaya's character reveals her pregnancy, were particularly exceptional, remarked the actor-filmmaker.

The evolution of Malayalam cinema in the year 2025

Malayalam cinema has consistently showcased a remarkable array of writers and technicians since its inception. This excellence is a key reason why filmmakers from other language industries closely monitor our productions. Following the impactful contributions of directors such as Bharathan and Padmarajan, who focused on content-driven narratives for an extended period, the industry experienced a phase dominated by commercial cinema. However, we are now witnessing a resurgence of experimentation within the industry, which is truly exhilarating. Audiences have also become more receptive to innovative approaches across all genres, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. I wholeheartedly embrace this transformation, and it fills me with great enthusiasm, stated Vineeth Kumar while discussing the promising future of Malayalam cinema.

Upcoming initiatives

Vineeth Kumar, while choosing not to disclose further details regarding his future endeavours, has affirmed his intention to engage more actively in the realm of acting with several promising projects on the horizon. In addition to this, the actor and filmmaker is concurrently developing the script for his forthcoming directorial venture, which features a prominent actor from Malayalam cinema in the lead role. An official announcement regarding this project will be made at an appropriate time.

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