From the outset of his career, Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan was categorized as an action hero, a persona he has wholeheartedly adopted in his recent hit, Marco. However, this association did not persist for long, as the actor himself revealed to OTTplay in a prior interview that he had struggled against this undesired image.

As Marco nears the impressive milestone of Rs 75 crore at the global box office, Unni is solidifying his status as an action hero, with his films in this genre eagerly anticipated not only by Malayalam audiences but also by viewers across India. This moment serves as an opportune time to reflect on when the Malikkappuram actor was “striving to overcome the image.”

Unni Mukundan: All my career, I have been fighting this battle

In a 2021 interview conducted prior to the release of Meppadiyan, the actor shared that following his initial success as the lead in Mallu Singh, he had already developed a reputation as an action hero. “This came with its own set of expectations,” remarked the Jai Ganesh actor. “Throughout my career, I have been engaged in this struggle. I never solicit action roles, yet when they are offered to me, I perform them exceptionally well.”

 romantic drama Orissa and Ithu Pathiramanal, they did not translate into box office success, which hindered the actor's efforts.

It was during this period that Unni was presented with the opportunity to portray a physically imposing IPS officer-aspirant in Dulquer Salmaan’s Vikramadithyan. Although the Marco actor had initially expressed reluctance to accept the role due to concerns about being typecast, it was the film’s director, Lal Jose, who persuaded him to recognize that “it was my strength and to leverage it to my advantage.”

Unni Mukundan embraces the action-hero image in Marco

The Malayalam actor exemplifies the effective utilization of public perception, successfully transforming it into a pan-Indian success with the film Marco. The Hindi adaptation of this brutal action-thriller is also performing exceptionally well at the box office, even surpassing the Bollywood film Baby John in theatre screenings.

During a recent press conference in Mumbai, Unni shared that he grew up admiring action films and considers several action heroes among his favourite actors. He remarked, “In our industry, we have Mohanlal, who has established a remarkable standard. Aspiring to emulate him and achieve even a fraction of his accomplishments garners appreciation from the audience.”

It is plausible that Unni was referring to the wide array of roles that Mohanlal has portrayed, and the success of Marco may pave the way for him in genres that were previously not associated with his career prior to this significant action blockbuster.

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