The accidental police officer: How Luca team cast Nithin George in the last minute

Tovino Thomas's latest romantic drama 'Luca' has hit the theaters on June 28 Friday. Amid the exciting reviews lauding the chemistry between Tovino Thomas and Ahana Krishna, the actor who played a cop called Akbar Hussein is being widely noticed for his candid performance. Nithin George, a Muvattupuzha native, landed this role quite unexpectedly. A popular serial actor and a musician, Nithin George has debuted in Malayalam cinema as an actor through Luca. In a candid chat with Onmanorama, Nithin George opens up about his journey to silver-screen, aspirations and dreams.

Miniscreen prologue

Nithin George has been a movie aspirant right from his childhood. Having a keen interest for music, he learned and specialized in classical and modern music. Nithin started his career in a private FM channel. Within a few years, he left his job as a music manager for the FM and ventured out into mini-screen.

“I couldn't resist my urge to become an actor. No other career satisfied me,” he said. Thus, Nithin portrayed the lead character in a mega serial called 'Chakravakam,' aired on a private television channel. “I established myself as an actor on miniscreen first. The serial was a hit. After almost ten years, I left my miniscreen career and turned to movies for good,” Nithin says.

Cross-border shortcut

Nithin George's first cinema project was in Tamil. Luca's director Arun Bose is an intimate friend. Nithin worked for an off-beat Tamil movie called Alayin Visai along with Arun Bose. Luca's discussions started off during the sets of that movie.

The Luca team including Arun Bose and Nithin George had fixed popular actor Siju Wilson to perform the character of Akbar Hussein. Nithin George was set to do the character called Aloshi. As the production schedules progressed, Siju Wilson faced a clash of dates and backed out from Luca. So Nithin was asked to perform the role of police officer.

Luca's father

Nithin George is married and is a father of twins Luca and Mannah. “It is quite co-incidental that my son's name became the name of my first movie. I am proud that I am Luca's father, too,” Nithin said on a humorous note.

Luca effect

Nithin says that he has been getting numerous phone calls and text messages appreciating his performance in the movie Luca. “Some even asked whether I had acted as a police officer in another popular movie,” said Nithin, gladly. Nithin says that he has given his best in this movie.

Nithin looks out to perform more important character roles in Malayalam cinema.