Of late, Vivek Oberoi is becoming a frequent face in South films, cherishing the different narratives they bring to the screen. As he kicks off the shoot of Kaduva, his second Malayalam venture after Lucifer (2019), he says the story of a deep conflict between two strong-headed men drew him in.

“The character I play is not a typical antagonist; that’s what made me gravitate towards playing him. He is a church-going, morally upright family man. But he probably has too much power at his disposal,” says the actor. The film, directed by Shaji Kailas, will see Oberoi pitted against Prithviraj Sukumaran.

The OTT revolution over the past year clearly showed us that Malayalam cinema is undergoing a renaissance of sorts. Oberoi seconds the notion. “Malayalam cinema has the ability to offer characters with unique complexities. I enjoyed playing Bobby in Lucifer that won me critical acclaim as well as commercial success. Kaduva and my character in it have the same potential.”

But his journey wouldn’t be complete without exhaustive prep. “The first step is to understand the cultural aspects that affect the character, then grasp the finer nuances. [I find] Malayalam the toughest among the southern languages, having done films in each language. You will catch me pacing up and down the set, trying to perfect my dialogues.”