Mohammed Nagaman Lateef, the Head of Talent at Hoonur, has been making a name for himself in the entertainment industry by closely working with several actors and talents. While he is known for spotting and managing talent, there has been growing buzz about Lateef himself exploring acting. Addressing the reports, he reveals that he has indeed started receiving acting offers but is being selective about his debut.
“Yes, I have started getting a lot of acting offers, but I am choosy as it will be my debut. After my chat show, honestly, why not? With MNL, there are a lot of things happening, so I am looking for a very different character where it is justified,” he says.

Talking about the kind of roles he would consider, Nagaman says that he is not looking to simply make an appearance on screen. For him, the character needs to have substance and should justify his decision to enter acting. “If I am doing acting, I want to do something very different and something where the character has a reason. Whatever it is, it has to be real. I want people to see me as a character and not just think that I am doing it because I am from the industry,” he adds.

Would he be open to playing a character or being part of a film that addresses obesity, body image or the social stigma around being overweight? Nagaman says he would certainly consider it if the subject is handled well. “If there is a good subject on obesity or a cause-based film on being fat, why not? If the story is strong and the character is justified, I would definitely consider it. I believe such subjects need to be presented properly and realistically,” he says.

Nagaman is also open to exploring different formats, whether it is a short film, television appearance, YouTube project or an OTT show. According to him, the platform is secondary when the opportunity offers him something meaningful. “I am open to short films, television, YouTube and OTT. For me, the platform is not the only thing that matters. The character, the story and what I get to do as an actor are more important,” he shares.

Having worked closely with talent who have appeared on reality shows such as Lock Upp and Bigg Boss, Nagaman has also been asked whether he would ever participate in a reality show himself if he received an offer. While he has seen the format from the other side, he believes the decision would depend on what the show offers him. “Why not? I have been sending my talent for reality shows like Lock Upp and Bigg Boss, so I understand the format and what it demands. If something comes to me that feels right and gives me an opportunity to show a different side of myself, I would definitely think about it,” he says.

Nagaman also points out that audiences have become more accepting of actors breaking away from conventional appearances and stereotypes. Citing Ram Kapoor’s successful stint in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, he says that being different can work when the character connects with the audience. “If we see Ram Kapoor in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, he was a hit in that. It shows that you don’t always have to fit into a particular image. Whatever you do, it has to be real and the audience should connect with it,” he concludes.