Ajmal Amir in a fun horror film directed by brother Askar Amir

Ajmal Amir

is excited about his next Mollywood project. And it’s not only because it is a fun horror thriller. The film marks the directorial debut of his brother

Askar Amir

, who has also written the script. “I am so excited to be directed by him,” says Ajmal, who imprinted himself in Malayali hearts early in his career while playing Mohanlal’s wayward brother who comes good in Madambi.

Speaking about the shoot that is ongoing in Munnar, the actor says, “I was nervous about what it would be like to be directed by him, but it’s amazing to see him at work and see how he has fit into the shoes of a director. He is really confident in what he is doing; his shots are really nice and he is precise even about the minor things. Also, he knows exactly what he wants from his actors and even with me, he knows how to get the right expressions and emotions.”

Interestingly, this is Ajmal’s second consecutive

horror film

, though this film incorporates fun, humour, romance and lust with the scary horror elements, he points out. He had earlier worked on Kshanam, which is also the debut of Anu Sonara, Anu Sithara’s sister. It is set to release in March, he says.

The current film has Ajmal playing a ghost

writer

, who has travelled to a hilly area with a wildlife photographer friend. The story unfolds with how the duo try to get to the bottom of the mystery behind the spooky place that they are caught in. The film, being shot in Munnar, Peermade, Mundakayam and even Dubai, also has Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Gauthami Nair and Merin Philip in prominent roles.

As a doctor, how does Ajmal feel about back at a shoot in these pandemic times? “I am all for a return to normalcy. People should take precautions, but we need to work and beat the pandemic situation. There is no point in hiding. In the industry, stars have compromised on their pay, because we are passionate about the work and also because a lot of technicians and others have been struggling in the past several months with work being at a standstill,” he says.