Nimisha Sajayan and Roshan Mathew reach new peaks with Poacher: A recap of their journeys

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With Poacher garnering great responses, expectations rise for both Roshan Mathew and Nimisha Sajayan to reach new heights.

While it may have initially sparked curiosity among many that Richie Mehta, creator of the Emmy-winning Delhi Crime, chose two Malayalam actors, lesser-known in north circles to play the lead characters in his new crime drama series Poacher, after watching the show, it becomes evident why the team opted for them. With stunning performances, both Nimisha Sajayan and Roshan Mathew seem to have stolen many hearts, just as they have been doing in the south for the past several years.

Though for many, Nimisha is just Malaiarasi from Karthik Subbaraj’s Jigarthanda DoubleX and the wife from The Great Indian Kitchen and Roshan is Sushant from Anurag Kashyap’s Choked and Zulfi from Jasmeet K Reen’s Darlings, those familiar with their careers from the beginning would have been excited to see them in Poacher, eagerly anticipating their portrayals of Mala and Alan, respectively.

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Entry into cinema

Coming from a solid theatre background, Roshan, hailing from Changanassery town in Kottayam district, entered the realm of cinema by playing a key role in the English TV miniseries Tanlines (2015) after spending five years honing his craft on stage. The same year, he made his debut in the Malayalam industry with a minor part in the horror comedy Adi Kapyare Kootamani. While neither project earned him widespread recognition, the unfamed actor’s adeptness in comedy left an impression on viewers. Eager to explore different roles, Roshan ventured into negative character territory in 2016 with the Mammootty, Nayanthara-starrer Puthiya Niyamam. Though the film was very shoddy, Roshan managed to show more glimpses of his potential, albeit his overall performance was deemed amateurish.

However, his career trajectory took a turn with Aanandam (2016), where he portrayed the quirky Gautham Roy. Popularly known as Rockstar Gautham, a college student deeply enamoured with his classmate and reluctantly part of a rock band for the sake of fitting in, Roshan’s portrayal of the character was superb. In fact, a total cringe-fest of a movie, the only good thing to have come out of Aanandam was the taking off of Roshan’s career.

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Roshan Mathew and his co-star Annu Antony on the sets of Aanandam. (Image: Roshan Mathew/Instagram)

Despite starring in four films, Roshan didn’t achieve any box-office success the following year. Nevertheless, his performances continued to garner praise and in particular, Viswasapoorvam Mansoor showcased a different side of his acting skills, effortlessly portraying a range of emotions with sincerity. Even in tiring watches like Matchbox and Orayiram Kinakkalal, Roshan proved to be a reliable asset, gradually strengthening his position in the industry.

Meanwhile, in 2017, director Dileesh Pothan delivered one of the industry’s standout films of the last decade, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum. The movie also introduced a new heroine to Malayalam cinema, Nimisha Sajayan, born to a Malayali couple settled in Mumbai, who had previously played a minor role as a background actor in the Manju Warrier-starrer C/O Saira Banu earlier that year. The Pothan directorial provided Nimisha with a remarkable chance to showcase her skills. Think about it, how many performers have been fortunate enough to have a project that challenges them so much right at the start of their career itself? Nimisha effortlessly seized this opportunity and delivered an outstanding rendition, deviating significantly from the typical portrayal expected of female actors. Her depiction of the character Sreeja, especially the subtle manner in which she conveyed the undertones, was emotionally authentic, and Nimisha fully immersed herself in the role with confidence, displaying no indication of being a newcomer. Her on-screen chemistry with both Suraj Venjaramoodu and Fahadh Faasil too was enchanting.

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Nimisha Sajayan in Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum. (Image: Nimisha Sajayan/Instagram)

In 2018, Roshan made a return in Koode, receiving acclaim despite his character having minimal screen presence. Meanwhile, Nimisha delivered a standout performance as Aishwarya in Eeda, a film that tells the story of two star-crossed lovers whose story evolves against the backdrop of political violence in Kannur, Kerala. Acting alongside the stellar Shane Nigam, Nimisha adeptly portrayed her character without resorting to overly dramatic moments, contributing to the overall quality of the film. She further dazzled in the comedy-drama Mangalyam Thanthunanena and the crime thriller Oru Kuprasidha Payyan, playing starkly contrasting characters.

2019: The year that changed their careers

2019 proved to be a significant year for both actors, as they embraced daring roles in exceptional films, solidifying their presence in the industry. While Roshan received commendation for his role in Thottappan, his portrayal of Ameer in Geetu Mohandas’ Moothon, a speech-impaired man in Lakshadweep who falls for nearby resident Akbar (Nivin Pauly), a Kuthu Ratheeb artiste, showcased his remarkable ability to convey deep emotions through subtle gestures and even silences. The film also highlighted Roshan’s talent in using his physicality to express the character’s innermost feelings without exaggeration.

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Roshan Mathew in Viswasapoorvam Mansoor. (Image: Roshan Mathew /Instagram)

Nimisha starred in three films in the same year, each belonging to various genres. Her performance in Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s Chola garnered the most praise, showcasing her skill in deep-diving into the ethos of her character Janaki and portraying her emotions with precision. While Nalpathiyonnu displayed her versatility in lighthearted roles, as the film had a romantic track too, Stand Up had her playing a stand-up comedian unwilling to ignore societal injustices, demonstrating her range as an actor.

C U Soon and The Great Indian Kitchen

Although Nimisha didn’t have any releases in 2020, Roshan’s career took off significantly as three films featuring him premiered. Just before the country entered its first Covid-induced lockdown, Roshan made waves in Kerala by portraying an antagonist in Kappela. Initially depicted as an innocent youth, it’s only towards the end that the true intentions of Roshan’s character Vishnu became clear and it showcased his ability to portray various facets of the character adeptly. Roshan skillfully depicted Vishnu’s sudden transformation, which required meticulous attention, and highlighted the character’s darkness. In the same year, he made his Bollywood debut in Anurag Kashyap’s Choked and despite the film not being well-received, Roshan managed to capture attention. However, it was his role in Mahesh Narayanan’s screenlife mystery thriller C U Soon that propelled him to stardom, capturing the hearts of viewers across India. The direct-to-OTT movie highlighted Roshan’s ability to express feelings effectively and his chemistry with Darshana Rajendran was bewitching.

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Nimisha Sajayan in The Great Indian Kitchen. (Image: Nimisha Sajayan/Instagram)

If 2020 was characterised by Roshan’s success, 2021 marked Nimisha’s breakthrough year, starting with her lead role in Jeo Baby’s groundbreaking national sensation film The Great Indian Kitchen. Nimisha effortlessly portrayed the role of a homemaker facing unjust treatment from her patriarchal in-law family, including her husband, and set a high standard for contemporary actors and female character portrayal. Though a small character, she excelled in the Mammootty-starrer One as well, before delivering a remarkable performance in Martin Prakkat’s Nayattu, portraying one of the three cops on the run over the allegation of killing a Dalit man. In Mahesh Narayanan’s Malik, on the other hand, Nimisha showcased her versatility by playing a local revolutionary leader’s wife, skillfully navigating her role, Roselyn, through different ages depicted in the film.

2022 also marked the first collaboration between Roshan and Nimisha in Oru Thekkan Thallu Case, wherein their on-screen chemistry was spellbinding and both actors shone remarkably in their respective roles. Roshan also made his second appearance in Bollywood with the Alia Bhatt-starrer Darlings, leaving a further impression on Hindi moviegoers. Meanwhile, Nimisha took on fewer roles during this time, limiting her on-screen presence.

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Roshan Mathew and Nimisha Sajayan in Oru Thekkan Thallu Case. (Image: Nimisha Sajayan/Instagram)

In 2023, both actors continued to showcase their talents with a range of impressive projects. Nimisha starred in lead roles in notable films like Rajeev Ravi’s period drama Thuramukham, Nathalia Syam’s Indian English movie Footprints on Water, SU Arun Kumar’s drama Chithha, Jigarthanda DoubleX, Dr Biju’s anti-war film Adrishya Jalakangal, delivering exceptional performances and expanding her presence in the industry. Roshan, on the other hand, impressed audiences with his comedic role in G Marthandan’s Maharani and garnered attention at film festivals for his lead role in Prasanna Vithanage’s Sri Lankan-Indian co-production drama film Paradise, where he starred alongside Darshana, portraying an ignorant elite snob.

Despite her success, Nimisha faced significant misogynistic comments regarding her appearance during this period of rising fame. However, with her performance in Poacher receiving praise, including from National Award-winning actor and the show’s executive producer Alia, Nimisha continues to ascend to new heights.

As Roshan also solidifies his position as a bankable actor, proficient in multiple languages, expectations rise for both thespians to reach new heights and continue thriving in cinema, delivering exceptional characters and stories to audiences.

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