Actor Akef Najem has taken to social media to express his regret over playing a ‘negative character’ in Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life.
In an Instagram post, Najem admitted he had not read the script properly and the true message of the film and his character, and that he realised it fully only after he saw the film.
He dedicated his post to the people of Saudi Arabia, stating that he had accepted the role because of a desire to portray the country and its people in the best possible way but did not realise the negative implications that were attached to his character.
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He says he was informed that the plot was about the hero, who gets lost in the desert for several days, and a gallant Saudi man comes to his rescue, and that was what drove him to agree to the role.
His apology comes after he received a huge backlash for his role, with one user criticising him for “letting the Indians distort the image of Arabs”.
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Written and directed by Blessy, ‘Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life’ follows the real-life experience of Najeeb (Prithviraj) who goes to Saudi Arabia to provide for his family back home, but is instead forced into slavery as a goat herder in the desert for over three years.
‘Aadujeevitham’, which was released in March 2024, grossed over Rs 160 crore worldwide, becoming the third highest grossing Malayalam film of all time.