Sharjah: Malayalam actor Mammootty on Monday made his fans gathered at the Sharjah International Book Fair wait for more than an hour, but his tardiness was soon forgotten as he won them over with his dry humour and sardonic self-evaluation of his stardom.
“I am overwhelmed at being here. I think it’s one of the most unforgettable and special moments in my life,” said Mammootty, the South Indian actor who has acted in over 350 films.
The matinee idol was at the annual literary fair in Sharjah to be a part of an interactive session which explored his journey into films and his charitable initiatives.
“All of you here are my biggest strength and my source of arrogance,” he said. Almost as an afterthought, the actor explained his late arrival.
“I was here last night. But it took me two hours to reach Sharjah from Dubai and the traffic snarls weren’t anticipated. I am not in the habit of making anyone wait. What could I do? I couldn’t step out of the car and run to the venue, could I?” asked Mammootty in Malayalam.
His apology was met with a thunderous applause from his legion of Malayali fans.
The National Award-winning actor, who has acted in films such as the prison romance Mathilukal and family drama Valsalyam, also implored his fans to inculcate the habit of reading books and extend their knowledge.
Read the full interview in Gulf News soon.
