Kattalan, produced by Shareef Muhammed under Cube Entertainments, is a pan-Indian action thriller directed by Paul George. The film features Antony Varghese (Pepe) and Rajisha Vijayan in lead roles
Actor Harishankar Narayanan, who has moved from sports analysis to acting and recently made his Malayalam cinema debut with Kattalan, has revealed that an unexpected selfie played a key role in securing him a part in the film. He appears as one of the three principal antagonists in the Antony Varghese-starrer, an action thriller that has been drawing attention for its ensemble cast and high-octane narrative.
Harishankar, who previously worked as a sports analyst with the Mumbai Indians IPL franchise, later transitioned into content creation and acting. He also featured in the web series Label, which he credits with helping him gain visibility within the entertainment industry. His portrayal of Nelson in Kattalan has since begun receiving appreciation from sections of the audience following the film’s release.
He started with a smile, “How I landed this role is interesting. The casting director of the film saw my web series ‘Label’ and sent me a message on Instagram informing me that he had referred my name to the makers of Kattalan for the role. I was excited and anxious at the same time as this film marks my Malayalam debut.”
Describing how a chance moment ultimately led to his casting, Harishankar said he travelled to Kerala to meet casting director Abu Valayamkulam, initially unsure of whether he had secured the role. He explained, “When we met, the casting director told me that I had not been picked. I was nevertheless thankful he had suggested my name. So, before returning, for memory’s sake, we decided to click a selfie together.” The actor said that what followed was entirely unexpected, as the image taken during that meeting eventually reached the film’s producer.
He continued, “The actor continued, “The casting director kept this picture on his profile and the film’s producer happened to see it and said that it was me they were looking to cast as Nelson and that is how I got this role.””
Kattalan, produced by Shareef Muhammed under Cube Entertainments, is a pan-Indian action thriller directed by Paul George. The film features Antony Varghese (Pepe) and Rajisha Vijayan in lead roles. The story has been penned by Paul George, Joby Varghese and Jero Jacob. It also features music by Ajaneesh Loknath, known for his work on Kantara, while cinematography is by Renadive and editing by Shameer Muhammed. Costume design is by Dhanya Balakrishnan and choreography by Sharief.
Cube Entertainments had earlier welcomed Harishankar on social media, highlighting his work in films including Retro (2025) and the upcoming Sirai (2026), along with his recognition from the web series Label (2023). The production house is also known for the blockbuster Marco.
Harishankar’s journey from sports analyst to antagonist in a major Malayalam film has since become a talking point among fans, particularly given the unusual way he says he landed the role.
