Malayalam actor applied for US scholarship but 9/11 attacks delayed his plans. How six years in America changed his life forever after his debut movie flopped

"The eyes, Chico, they never lie" - if this one line can be dedicated to someone, it would be none other than Fahadh Faasil. The Malayalam actor has stolen the show in almost every film he has been part of and won millions of hearts. From portraying a cunning yet desperate thief in Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum to the rigid psycho-antagonist Shammi in Kumbalangi Nights, a ruthless bald police officer in Pushpa and a flamboyant, unpredictable gangster in Aavesham, Fahadh has taken on a wide range of roles. But did you know that the actor left India after his debut film flopped?

How did life abroad change Fahadh Faasil's life forever?

In 2024, speaking to Onmanorama, Fahadh opened up about his life before becoming a renowned actor. He said, "I applied for scholarships in the USA, immediately after I completed my Class XII. However, this got delayed due to the September 11 terror attacks. My mother was worried since I wasn't doing much for the next four to five months, and I got enrolled at the SD College in Alappuzha. I spent one year there. I was sent to a boarding school when I was in Class IV, but had to study under my parents when I turned 18. But the experience was fun, nevertheless."




"I then moved to the USA after a year. I always compartmentalise my life pre and post US stay. My life there changed me, though I had to drop my engineering studies after two years since I realised it was not my cup of tea. I pursued Philosophy after informing my parents."

Fahadh Faasil recalls leaving India after debut failure

The actor recently spoke about his journey, his experience of working in Telugu cinema and the lessons he has learnt over the years, according to Moneycontrol. Fahadh recalled how emotional he was after his first film failed at the box office. He left India just two days after its release and moved to the US on a scholarship to study engineering.

As cited by TOI, he said, "Maybe by then I thought that I am going to be in America for the rest of my life. Not going back to India, except for holidays."

How six years in the US changed Fahadh's life

However, his six years away from India changed his perspective. During his time in the US, he discovered world cinema, books and new people. The experience eventually renewed his interest in acting.

“Those six years made me want to come back and do a movie. What started out as ‘one more film’ eventually turned into a much larger journey. And that one movie turned into 66 movies,” he said.

Fahadh Faasil's upcoming film

Meanwhile, on the work front, Fahadh Faasil is gearing up for the release of his Telugu film Don't Trouble The Trouble on October 2. The film is directed by Shashank Yeleti, with Fahadh playing Suri and Baby Ssara Palekar portraying Divya. The film also features Animal actor Saurabh Sachdeva in an important role. Stay tuned!