Prithviraj Sukumaran called Aamir Khan after meeting his sister Nikhat Khan on L2: Empuraan set, says, "I didn't know she is sir's sister"

Nikhat Khan with brother Aamir Khan

Prithviraj Sukumaran, the versatile Malayalam actor and filmmaker, recently shared an interesting anecdote about meeting Aamir Khan’s sister, Nikhat Khan, on the set of L2: Empuraan. In a candid conversation, Prithviraj revealed that he didn’t initially know about Nikhat’s relation to Aamir Khan.

"I didn't know she is sir's sister," Prithviraj confessed. "I know Aamir quite well, but I didn’t make the connection when I first met her on set." Nikhat had a brief but pivotal role in the film, and according to Prithviraj, her contribution was significant to the project.

"When you see the film, you'll see why," he explained. "You know, she’s in my film for very, very little while, but how important she is in the film and what she says is crucial to the narrative. It was a privilege to have her on location."

Prithviraj continued, recalling the moment he realized that Nikhat was Aamir Khan’s sister. "When the audition tapes came through, I said, 'I’d like her.' When I saw her audition, I knew she was perfect for the role. Then my casting director, Priya, said, 'By the way, she’s also Aamir’s sister.' I was like, 'Really?'"

After learning about the family connection, Prithviraj called Aamir Khan to share the news. "I just want to tell you," Prithviraj said, recalling the conversation with Aamir. "I messaged him and said, 'Your sister is a lot better than good in the film.'"

Apart from discussing his interaction with Nikhat Khan, Prithviraj also touched upon the evolving landscape of Malayalam cinema. He acknowledged the rich heritage of Malayalam filmmaking, emphasizing its long history of creating exceptional cinema. However, he also pointed out a gap that he believed the industry had to bridge in terms of wider exhibition.

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"People across the country and across the world recognize Malayalam cinema's illustrious heritage of fantastic filmmaking," he said. "But what we were lacking, and I’ve said this to my friends in Mumbai media before, is the ability to properly go through an exhibition. That’s something we need to address."

Prithviraj also expressed his gratitude for being part of a project that allowed him to interact with a diverse set of talents. "I had the opportunity to speak to some of the cast and crew, very luckily, because of my dear friend here," he said, referring to a fellow collaborator. "They all spoke about the commitment and energy everyone brought to the set."

However, the actor made it clear that he was not trying to "rectify" anything within Malayalam cinema. "When I use words like rectification, it would mean that Malayalam cinema has lost its way," Prithviraj explained. "But that's not the case. We are doing wonderfully well. We’re going through a golden phase in our industry with filmmakers and actors delivering splendid performances. There’s nothing to be complaining about."

Despite the ongoing success, Prithviraj acknowledged that the rise of pan-Indian cinema and mainstream cinematic trends had shifted focus. "Ever since the whole phenomenon of cinema traveling across the country, and terms like pan-Indian being coined, the theatrical distribution networks have started focusing on films that can bring in big crowds from day one," he said.

"Malayalam cinema is not necessarily known for big-ticket, popcorn entertainers," Prithviraj added. "We are known for making a different kind of cinema, which still needs to find its own space within the distribution theatrical network in India. But I’m sure we’ll get there."