Shedding weight to play Najeeb was a challenging task: Prithviraj Sukumaran

“The book quickly gained widespread popularity, attracting interest from numerous directors, actors, and producers across Kerala. Eventually, director Blessy secured the rights to adapt the novel into a film. I express gratitude for the opportunity to portray Najeeb in the movie, noting the commitment to the project dating back to early 2009,” Prithviraj said, at the pre-release press meet held in Hyderabad on Friday, 23 March.

However, due to funding constraints, shooting did not commence until 2018, marking a 10-year journey from commitment to production.

The actor also pointed out the growth of the regional film market and the increasing popularity of Malayalam movies during this time.

The Telugu dubbed version of Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) will be released in the two Telugu states on 28 March.

The film is produced by Visual Romance, while Mythri Movie Distribution Company is releasing it in Telugu states.

AR Rahman composed the music and background score for the flick.

Director Blessy, Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean Lewis, and producers Y Ravi Shankar from Maitri and Shashi participated in the pre-release press meet.

Related: ‘Aadujeevitham’ is a benchmark, says Prithviraj Sukumaran

Shed 31 kilos to play Najeeb: Prithviraj

Prithviraj and team ‘Aadujeevitham at the pre-release press event in Hyderabad on 22 March. (Supplied)

Prithviraj Sukumaran recalled that the shooting for Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) commenced in 2019, with initial schedules taking place in Jordan and later in Kerala.

The actor admitted that he underwent a remarkable physical transformation for the role, gaining weight before shedding 31 kg.

He took a seven-month break between schedules to achieve this.

Despite facing budgetary challenges, the film production continued. The team encountered setbacks such as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions while shooting in Jordan, resulting in a three-month halt.

“Returning to India proved difficult, with the crew eventually flying back on a Vande Bharat special flight. Resuming filming after a year and a half, we landed in Algeria’s Timimoun amidst the Sahara desert — a location never explored before by a film crew,” the Malayalam actor recollected.

The director’s passion for cinema enabled this unique opportunity for Prithviraj. After Algeria, shooting resumed in Jordan, where the remaining scenes were filmed.

“The goal was to wrap up shooting by 2022, followed by an extensive year-and-a-half post-production phase. Director Blessy has an uncompromising dedication to every frame, both during filming and in post-production, I thank him for his valuable effort,” the lead actor added.

Also Read: AR Rahman’s ‘Periyone’ video song from ‘Aadujeevitham’ out

Finished it despite the hurdles: Blessy

Director Blessy expressed his gratitude to Ravi Shankar and Shashi of Mythri Movie Makers for releasing Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) in the Telugu states.

He mentioned his fondness for the Telugu language, which he finds close to Malayalam.

Blessy also shared that they initially planned to shoot the film in the deserts of Rajasthan but couldn’t find suitable locations.

Differences in Arabian sheep also influenced the decision to shoot abroad.

The fluctuating exchange rate — starting at ₹60 to the US dollar and rising to ₹83 during filming — affected the budget. Despite the challenges, the team captured what it desired during the 150 days of shooting in the desert.

Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) will hit theatres worldwide on 28 March in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi.

Also Read: Prithviraj wraps up dubbing for ‘Aadujeevitham’ in 4 languages