Vikramadithyan actor Sabu Varghese: I got typecast after the show and had to wait 10 years to get a breakthrough

Remember the iconic scene of the majestic walk of the emperor, accompanied by the thrilling title song of Malayalam's beloved serial 'Vikramadithyan'? I'm sure one face would have instantly come to mind – the actor who portrayed the legendary emperor. Even though it’s been 19 years, Sabu Varghese remains the King Vikramadithyan for the '90s generation. We had the chance to sit down for an exclusive interview with the actor, who made his debut as the powerful king in 2005 and is now known for his role in Mounaragam.
When discussing his entry into the show, Sabu revealed that he approached the director seeking an opportunity to sing in his upcoming project.
"Acting was never on my radar. Singing was my first passion, and I was looking for an opportunity to pursue it. That's when I met director TS Saji, who suggested I meet his brother, TS Suresh Babu, who was working on the Kadamattathu Kathanar serial at the time. I met him, and the first thing he asked was, 'Do you want to act?' Initially, I said no and explained that I was there for a chance to sing. It was he who told me that acting could open up more playback opportunities. Well, I fell for that, and that's how I became Vikramadithyan," he shared.
Although Vikramadithyan aired for only 149 episodes, the show left a lasting impact on viewers, especially children. Sabu shared his preparations for portraying the iconic ruler.

"The only thing I consciously changed was the way I walked. Vikramadithyan was an emperor, so his walk had to be nothing less than majestic. The makers also asked me to grow a moustache, as they didn’t want me to wear a fake one. Many people thought it was fake, but no, it was real. I loved that look so much that I kept it for years," he shared.
Sharing his unforgettable memories from the shoot, Sabu recalled filming two adventurous sequences.
"It was a long time ago, back in 2005, so the graphics weren't as advanced. We had to use live animals for the shoot. There was one sequence where a cobra had to crawl on my feet. The first snake the handler brought didn't cooperate, so he got another one. He warned me not to move. During the shot, the snake not only crawled through my feet but also made its way up to my thigh. The biggest shock came afterward, when the handler told me it was a newly caught snake and that he hadn’t removed its venomous fangs or done any stitching. A similar incident happened during a fight sequence with an elephant. It was only after the shot that I was told the elephant had killed its owner months before. Both incidents shook me a bit, but I was excited to take on these adventurous challenges," he added.
Although the character left a lasting impact on viewers, Sabu revealed that he became typecast and had to wait 10 years to get a breakthrough.

"I remained Vikramadithyan for almost 10 years, even after the show ended (smiles). It's natural to get typecast when you start with such a strong character and makeover. People might have thought I wouldn't be flexible enough to fit into another role. Although I played Lord Shiva and some kings on-screen, it wasn't until almost a decade later that I got a satisfying character in Joyce's Bhramanam," he shared.
However, Sabu opened up about being overwhelmed by the love he continues to receive, even after almost two decades. The actor excitedly shared that even in the videos of Mounaragam, people still comment, "Isn't that Vikramadithyan?"