DULQUER SALMAAN

HE’S KNOWN FOR HIS SIGNATURE BLUSH, CHARMING GOOD LOOKS AND INTENSE PERFORMANCES. USUALLY SHY AND RECLUSIVE, THE SUPERSTAR OPENS UP IN THIS HELLO! EXCLUSIVE, TAKING US THROUGH HIS UPBRINGING AWAY FROM THE SPOTLIGHT, HIS BOX OFFICE SUCCESSES, HIS ICONIC FATHER MAMMOOTTY AND HIS BEST FRIEND AND WIFE, AMAL SUFIYA

- NAYARE ALI

The long, spectacular driveway that leads to the magnificent Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad sets the mood for a captivating day with Malayalam actor and superstar Dulquer Salmaan, already ensconced in the regal Akbar Suite. At first glance, he’s the boy next door, dressed in a white tee and black track pants, a matching hat adding oomph to the casual ensemble. Geared up to get the shoot with HELLO! rolling, he arrived well in time, a stickler for punctuality and a professional who values every minute, given his chock-a-block schedule the last few months.

Dulquer has been travelling relentlessly, across the country and abroad, shooting for a number of projects. He has a spate of releases lined up for the year, starting with Sita Ramam this month and R Balki’s Chup in June. In the pipeline for later this year are Othiram Kadakam, King of Kotha and Raj & DK’s first Netflix series Guns and Gulaabs with Rajkummar Rao.

“It’s been a wonderful experience to be part of this. I want to figure out what that world is like and just experience it… So when I got this call, I really wanted to give it a shot,” says the amiable actor on Guns and Gulaabs, for which he’s been shooting nights in Dehradun.

Reclusive with reason

It’s been hard to pin down this low-key man, who shies away from any kind of publicity, preferring to let his repertoire of films do the talking. But now, committed to this interview, Dulquer is all gung-ho, letting his guard down to chat even about his wife of 12 years, Amal Sufiya.