May 11, 2026 12:15pm IST
‘Patriot’ Star Zarin Shihab On Working On Her Craft To Match Up Co-stars Mammootty And Mohanlal: ‘No Amount of Scale Can Cover Up a Bad Performance’ (EXCLUSIVE)
With "Patriot", director Mahesh Narayanan has orchestrated one of the most formidable ensembles in recent Malayalam cinema. This high-stakes espionage thriller achieves the rare feat of uniting titans like Mammootty and Mohanlal
Amidst such cinematic gravity is Zarin Shihab, who has quietly become a hallmark of quality, following standout performances in critically acclaimed projects like "B 32 Muthal 44 Vare" and the award-winning "Aattam".
Inclusion in this project came with pressure for the actress, “I became a part of this film through an audition held by the director and the team. It was important to remind myself that I was chosen to be a part of the film for a reason,l — my performance,” she says. “There was enough space on set to learn and figure things out. And Mahesh Narayanan always does a small rehearsal before filming, which was super helpful for me. No amount of scale can cover up a bad performance so I knew I had to fulfil the role that I was chosen for.”
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That sense of grounding became especially important on a set filled with actors she had grown up watching. “Knowing that I’m sitting next to stars who really carved their paths by taking risks was overwhelming,” she confesses. “There were a few scenes which involved a lot of background actors, complicated camera work and long dialogues by Mammootty sir. Dialogue delivery has so much nuance to it, and it was incredible to see him handle it with ease. I felt very fortunate to be able to witness those moments.”
In “Patriot,” Shihab plays Aysha Iqbal, a character she describes as emotionally tied to the film’s protagonist Daniel James. But what interested her most was the contradiction within the role. “My character Aysha Iqbal exists in the emotional space of the protagonist Daniel James. In some ways, she drives the plot forward so there was a lot of scope for performing,” she reveals. “She carries herself with intelligence and tradition. That was interesting because you usually tend to view things in a binary, like someone with a liberal education won’t be religious. I liked the fact that she had both sides to herself.”
Like much of Narayanan’s work, “Patriot” appears rooted as in emotional politics as well in espionage mechanics. To prepare for the role, Shihab says the director pushed her toward real-world references rather than cinematic ones. “The director had asked me to watch a few documentaries and interviews on the wives and partners of dissidents and journalists who were considered traitors purely for raising their voice against the status quo,” she says. “I found it so interesting that these women were so inspired to continue the fight and demand accountability from the establishment, even when the causes failed their partners.”
She adds, “Mahesh sir told me that I had to channel the same helplessness and anger that they experienced, within the meter of the film. I had to work in these emotions within the physicality and body language of a mature woman, which was also fairly challenging. On a personal note, it really made me question my privilege because I’ve never had to fight for truth the way they had to.”
Even before release, “Patriot” has become one of the most discussed upcoming Malayalam films. But Shihab says she actively avoids carrying that anticipation into her process. “I try not to take on any pressure because that immediately takes the fun out of the process,” she says. “For me, what matters most is the task of ensuring that this is different from my previous performance. No one in the audience, including myself, is interested in seeing repetitive performances.”
She continues, “A big project like this certainly feels intimidating, but I try to channel that into my performance. If I’m feeling angry or sad about something, I try to use that energy into my performance. It throws a different shade into your approach and it takes you to a different place as a performer, which is what makes exploring characters so much more fun and engaging.”
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