When Nayanthara lost patience with Mohanlal’s advice and Fazil’s frustration on Vismayathumbathu set

Before she became the reigning Lady Superstar of South Indian cinema, Nayanthara faced several hurdles early in her career—one of which involved a tense moment on the sets of Vismayathumbathu (2004). The actress once recalled an incident where director Fazil grew visibly frustrated with her performance, while her co-star, the legendary Mohanlal, kept offering advice that only added to her stress.

In a throwback interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nayanthara opened up about her struggles during the filming of the psychological thriller, where she played a wandering spirit opposite Mohanlal’s character, a man with supernatural abilities. As a newcomer in the Malayalam film industry, she was still grappling with the language and nuances of acting, which led to a particularly challenging day on set.

“There was a day when Fazil sir got very upset with me,” Nayanthara recalled. “He told me, ‘I really can’t take it; you’re not understanding.’” The pressure of delivering the perfect performance overwhelmed her, and despite Mohanlal’s repeated suggestions, she found herself unable to process his guidance. Frustrated, she finally snapped, telling him, ‘Sir, I don’t even know what I’m doing. I don’t even know what dialogue I’m saying. You’re telling me to stand on this mark, shed a tear at this word, fall in love at that word. What are you asking me to emote from? I have nothing inside me. There is only fear inside me.’
Rather than getting offended, Mohanlal responded in the most unexpected way—he simply laughed and suggested she take a break. However, the situation was more intense for Fazil, who was so disappointed that he walked off set for nearly two hours.
Eventually, the veteran director returned with a calmer demeanor, reassuring Nayanthara that he believed in her talent. He encouraged her to take the rest of the day off and come back fresh the next day. Looking back, Nayanthara acknowledged that the experience, though overwhelming at the time, helped shape her into the strong and seasoned actress she is today.
Despite the rocky start, Vismayathumbathu went on to become an important milestone in her career. It not only solidified her presence in the industry but also marked one of her earliest collaborations with Mohanlal—one that, despite its challenges, played a key role in her evolution as an actress.