Priyadarshan thinks this Malayalam actor at 25 is the ‘second coming’ of Kamal Haasan

At the trailer launch of his daughter Kalyani Priyadarshan's Malayalam film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, Priyadarshan was all praise for this actor.

Updated on: Aug 26, 2025, 14:11:14 IST

By Neeshita Nyayapati

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Filmmaker Priyadarshan recently attended the trailer launch of his daughter Kalyani Priyadarshan’s upcoming Malayalam film Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra. At the event, the director drew parallels between a young Malayalam actor and the Tamil star Kamal Haasan, calling him his ‘second coming’.

Actor Kamal Haasan feels irreplacable but Priyadarshan thinks there's one Malayalam actor who can take over from him. (PTI)

Priyadarshan thinks this actor is ‘second coming’ of Kamal Haasan

At the event, Priyadarshan had nothing but praise for 25-year-old Malayalam actor Naslen K Gafoor, who is Kalyani’s co-star in Lokah. Referring to Kamal’s 1974 Malayalam film Vishnu Vijayam, he said, “Naslen is a favourite actor of mine. When I used to watch films like Vishnu Vijayam, I noticed the unique charm of Kamal Haasan as an actor. He exuded innocence while also conveying a cheeky confidence. Naslen feels like the second coming of that.” Naslen was visibly moved by the praise, standing up and expressing his gratitude to Priyadarshan.

Who is Naslen?

Naslen was born on 11 June 2000 in Kodungallur, Kerala. He debuted in cinema in 2019 by playing Melvin in Thanneer Mathan Dinangal and was praised for his comic timing. After starring in films like Kuruthi, Home and Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan, receiving accolades for his performances, Naslen garnered fame when he starred in the 2024 film Premalu. He played a youngster called Sachin Santhosh in the film. The film performed well not just in Malayalam, but also in Telugu, earning ₹131.18 crore worldwide and becoming one of the highest-grossers in Malayalam.

Recent work

After Premalu, Naslen starred in I Am Kathalan and Alappuzha Gymkhana. His next film, Lokah, will be released in theatres on 28 August for Onam. The superhero film is produced by Dulquer Salmaan under his banner Wayfarer Films and directed by Dominic Arun.

Kamal was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life. Priyadarshan is directing the Hindi film Haiwaan, an adaptation of Oppam. He also has Bhoot Bangla and Hera Pheri 3 lined up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeshita Nyayapati
Despite having a Master's degree in Journalism and over a decade of experience in print and digital media as a field reporter and sub-editor at organisations such as The Times of India and Reader's Digest, Neeshita Nyayapati remains a movie buff first and a Chief Content Producer second. She fell in love with movies in childhood and believes nothing matches the magic of watching a good film that moves you with a warm tub of popcorn in hand. Her love for writing about cinema follows that. Come Friday, you'll find her at her happy place, the movies, catching the latest rom-com or masala offering, for reviews or otherwise. As for the rest of the week, she's here reporting the juiciest news in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi or bringing out the best of celebs in interviews. While her niche is Telugu cinema, Neeshita likes to dabble in a little bit of everything to stay up to date. From film announcements to scandals and hard news angles, she has explored it all. A good book, a comforting cup of hot chocolate, puppy kisses and a stunning beach view are all she needs to unwind. Her passion for biking and travelling has taken her to various places across the country. She has found peace in everything from the frozen lakes of Gangtok to the coffee plantations of Coorg and the dense forests of Bandipur, to the monasteries of Darjeeling. But no matter where she goes, Neeshita loves coming across inspiring and moving stories.Read More

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