When Dulquer Salmaan said he’d never rejoice at someone else's failure; actor calls cinema a sport - Throwback

As Dulquer Salmaan basks in the success of his production venture 'Lokah', it’s worth revisiting a moment when the star spoke candidly about navigating the highs and lows of cinema.


In a 2022 chat with the media, Dulquer reflected on his journey, the pressures of being a star kid, and why he believes the film industry must support each other instead of celebrating failures.

Dulquer says he is aware of the pitfalls from the start

Dulquer admitted in a chat with OTT Play that he was well aware of the pitfalls when he chose to debut with Second Show in 2012. “Absolutely. End of the day, I obviously have the privileges and advantages of being a star kid or whatever. I got one foot in the door and I got these opportunities. But it also comes with a big group of people who are trying to bring me down – for whatever rivalries or who my dad is,” he said.

Comparing cinema to a sport, Dulquer explained that just like fans root for different teams, audiences naturally pick favourite stars. “It’s not unhealthy because eventually if you see it as a sport, it’s fine,” he added.

Dulquer prefers to stay focused

While the constant comparisons and criticism do affect him, Dulquer stressed that he prefers to stay focused. “I would be lying if I said it doesn’t bother me, because it does. But I try to wear blinders; I don’t want to look left or right, I just want to look ahead,” he explained. To counter negativity, Dulquer makes it a point to promote and support films from his peers, hoping the Malayalam industry functions as a fraternity that roots for each other.

Success without rivalry

For Dulquer, competition is healthy as long as it remains personal. “I want my films to do the best and I want to perform the best, but that’s my personal goal. I wouldn’t rejoice at someone else’s failure because as someone from the industry, I know the effort that goes into making a film,” he said.

Meanwhile, the actor is set to make a grand comeback in Mollywood with 'I'M Game'