Typecast and Forgotten: The Chocolate Boy Archetype in Tamil Cinema

 

Actor Abhinay passed away recently due to liver cirrhosis. He was the son of veteran actress T. P. Radhamani. His first notable appearance was alongside Dhanush in the coming-of-age film Thulluvadho Ilamai. The young, fair, and chubby Abhinay swept hearts back then. He was expected to carve an identity for himself, but after a few films, he was no longer seen.

In 2021, he re-emerged — not as part of a new project, but as a struggling actor battling a terminal liver condition. He had lost both his parents a few years earlier. With no work or financial support, and with his health worsening, the frail Abhinay — a complete contrast to the bright-faced boy from 2004 — garnered public sympathy. It was reported that someone from the film industry had supported him through his treatment, but Abhinay breathed his last a few days ago.

I don’t know about elsewhere, but being branded a “chocolate boy” — someone with cute or charming looks — is almost a curse in Tamil cinema. The earliest examples were actors Prashanth and Abbas.

Prashanth, son of actor Thyagarajan, made his first on-screen appearance at the age of 17. Before entering films, he had cleared the state’s medical entrance exam and was admitted to a medical college. Around the same time, film offers began to come his way. Prashanth chose cinema over a career in medicine and shone initially. The peak of his stardom was when he was cast opposite Aishwarya Rai in the 1997 hit Jeans. His portrayal of a young medical graduate with clean-shaven looks was well received, and he became a heartthrob. Young women began idealizing him as their “future husband” type. 

Perhaps wanting to take on different roles instead of being stuck with lover-boy characters, Prashanth began experimenting with his looks. He built a more muscular physique and tried diverse characters. However, I believe his sudden change in appearance didn’t sit well with audiences. A few of his later films did moderately well, but his career began to decline. Personal controversies, including issues in his marriage, and a changing Tamil cinema landscape contributed to his downfall.

Actor Abbas is a similar example. Unlike Prashanth, he didn’t experiment much with his image. He continued playing supporting roles, often bringing a touch of humor. When film offers started dwindling, he moved to New Zealand with his family. 

Prashanth, on the other hand, had invested his earnings in profitable ventures and managed to stay financially well-off despite his career slowing down.

What led to the downfall of Abhinay is unclear. Poor choice of films, a monotonous portfolio, not putting himself out there, and drinking habits together cut both his career and life short.

One exception, however, is Madhavan. His first film Alaipayuthey became a cult success. But Madhavan moved quickly to diversify — alternating between urban dramas and intense character roles. His bilingual upbringing and Mumbai connections helped him bridge industries, and when Tamil offers slowed, he seamlessly transitioned to Bollywood. Later, he proved his creative and intellectual mettle by producing and starring in Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.