Since you play one of the three idiots in 3 Idiots, how do you rate yourself in real life?
Back in college, I was sillier than my 3 Idiots character. I was a wild, naughty student who hardly attended classes. I sat for exams with a mere two per cent attendance but knew I would pass because my examiners dare not fail me — I had won too many laurels for my college in sports and extracurricular activities. I am no more a college student but I can still be quite a donkey like that. I hate following any kind of rules.

You auditioned for the role in the film. Not many successful actors would agree to that.
I have auditioned for every role I have done to date. If the director does not want to audition me, I insist on one because that way I can make sure I suit the character.

What is the reason for this?
It also gives me an idea about the director’s vision and what to expect from him and the crew. It also dispels the fears I might face on day one of the shoot about how the director and the crew will react.

Apparently, your weight was a bit of an issue in 3 Idiots.
The chief problem has been managing the weight on my face. Otherwise agile, I hurt my knee and so my physical activities had to be limited to minimum.

13B, 3 Idiots in 2009 and then Teen Patti and Tanu Weds Manu next year - was it a conscious decision to up your visibility in Bollywood?
When I started shooting for 3 Idiots, I was more visible in Mumbai. That, I think, encouraged filmmakers to offer me more films here.

Did it work?
So presently, I am based out of Mumbai but there are two projects in the South coming up next. Also, my house in Chennai is under construction. Soon I will be back in Chennai and then shuttling between the two cities.

You have always been popular in Bollywood. Yet you did Hindi films sporadically.
That’s because I was hardly offered films I really wanted to do. If you see the films I have done down South, they have all had strong stories. I want to be a part of films that I know will not be forgotten easily.

Can you give examples?
It doesn’t matter whether I have a guest appearance in it, like I had in Rang De Basanti. Teen Patti, with Mr Amitabh Bachchan and Sir Ben Kingsley, is another such project that I doubt will come my way ever again.

You are said to be Mani Ratnam’s favourite down South. Yet you have not been a part of the Hindi remakes of the originals in which you starred.
I’m not sure if I really am his favourite but I would like to believe so. His conviction makes me want to deliver to the best of my abilities. Saathiya was a Yash Raj venture and they would have obviously preferred to cast actors who are big in Bollywood. In Aayutha Ezhuthu (Yuva), I played the character that Abhishek Bachchan plays in Yuva. I doubt if Bollywood was ready to see me in that avatar. Most filmmakers still consider me best suited for loverboy roles.