Prithviraj reflects on 16-year journey with Aadujeevitham

Scheduled for release on March 28th, Aadujeevitham, starring Prithviraj, is set to hit screens across India in multiple languages. Discussing his involvement in the film, the actor opened up in an exclusive conversation.

Speaking to Pinkvilla, Prithviraj delved into his experience of working on the film Aadujeevitham, also known as The Goat Life.

When asked about his decision to be a part of the survival drama, Prithviraj shared, "It was a no-brainer actually. I mean Blessy came to me with this film back in 2008-2009 by which time the book Aadujeevitham was already a smash hit in Kerala."

He further elaborated, "Pretty much the whole state was talking about it. I think the edition that Blessy gave me was the third or fourth edition. As we speak, edition number 251 has just been published. So it is one of the largest-selling books in the history of Malayalam."

Reflecting on the journey of Aadujeevitham, Prithviraj added, "When Blessy came to me the story had just skyrocketed and everybody wanted to know about Najeeb and all that and by that point, multiple filmmakers across the country had their eyes on this book to make a film out of it. Not just from Malayalam, I know this personally, but from multiple filmmakers wanted to make the film and as destiny would have it, Blessy is the person who managed to procure the rights and he for some reason thought I’m the actor who should be doing this."

Acknowledging the weight of his role, Prithviraj expressed, "At that point in time, it was like the dream role for any actor but I was mature enough and I had enough grip over the content matter even back then to understand it was a big commitment and I’m taking up a big responsibility because it’s not just a book…it’s a life that someone lived. This is a true story and the person who lived what you see in this film is still amongst us alive and well to be telling the story. So I knew I’d had to be putting myself through drastic physical and mental torture to be able to pull this off."

He concluded by reflecting on his journey with the film, stating, "No regrets though. I think the experience of making this film is no longer just a movie experience for me. I have traveled with this film for 16 years and I’m 41 years old now, so 16 out of 41 is a sizable chunk of your life. As I come closer to the release of the film, it’s a culmination of many things for me, one of which happens to be a film."

Aadujeevitham, also known as The Goat Life, is based on the novel of the same name written by acclaimed author Benyamin. Directed by Blessy, the film stars Prithviraj in the lead role.

The survival drama portrays the trials of Najeeb Muhammed, a Malayali immigrant sold into slavery in Saudi Arabia and forced to work as a goatherd on a secluded farm.

Alongside Prithviraj, the film features Amala Paul as the female lead, with Jimmy Jean-Louis playing a pivotal role.