Some Tamil ones too are in his kitty — Route No.17, in which he has acted with his son Nihal, and the yet-to-be released Thainilam, in which he plays the lead with his daughter Neha.

A major project in the pipeline is Lovely, for which director Aashiq Abu wielded the camera for the first time. “Actually, he was the director of photography in Rifle Club, too,” says Dr Amar.

Films have always been a passion, the doc continues. “Watching films, the making process, and also getting autographs from actors,” he laughs.

To be a fulltime actor or filmmaker, one needs to dedicate oneself more, he says. “It requires a lot of time and effort. I cannot afford to do that because my patients would be affected,” he says. “Yet, the passion in me helps me manage as best as I can.”

Dr Amar believes everyone should set aside some “creative time”. “In Kochi, every second person has something or the other to do with films. They may be different kinds of professionals but they also are into films, either in acting or in the technical side,” he says.

“Film field has become more accessible now for the common man with a creative idea. This has brought in a very informed, interested crowd into the field.”