"Where was Gokul, the actor who played Hakim, during the movie's promotions?" Theatregoers wondered after watching 'Aadujeevitham'. Hakim, absent from the trailer and poster, was a hidden gem that Blessy kept away from the limelight until the movie's release.
Gokul, a native of Kozhikode, secured the role through auditions. Blessy was confident that this innocent 18-year-old would do justice to the character of Hakim. Just as Prithviraj underwent a significant physical transformation to become Najeeb, Gokul too went through a similar transformation. He increased his body weight to 64 kgs and later reduced it to 44 kgs for the role, drawing inspiration from Christian Bale's performance in 'The Machinist'.
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Gokul believes that 'Aadujeevitham' is not solely the story of Najeeb and Hakim but also a tribute to all those who tragically lost their lives in the desert. "My brother, who accompanied me for the audition, told me I would be playing Hakim. When we read 'Aadujeevitham', a certain thirst grips us; I wanted to infuse that into my character. Once I began reading, I couldn't put the book down. My mother interrupted me while reading, leaving me restless about Najeeb and Hakim's fate. Upon completing the book, I was overwhelmed with sadness and nervousness about portraying such a character," Gokul shared.
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Gokul revealed that 'Aadujeevitham' has been a significant part of his life since he was 18. Now 24, he feels he has matured greatly. "During the transition from boyhood to manhood, I had the opportunity to spend time with Blessy sir, Prithviraj, and Jimmy. I learned so much from them," Gokul added.
(Excerpts from an interview written for Manorama Online by R B Sreelekha)
