So what is it that has you concentrating more on, the small screen or films?
I am happy that my Telugu film, Little Hearts, won critical acclaim as well as awards. I won the State Government Nandi award for my performance in the film. I did get offers after that but they were not exciting enough. But now I am open to film offers in Tamil and Telugu as I am fluent in both the languages. Soon you will be seeing me again on the big screen too (smiles).
In the last six years, you have done about 30 serials. How was the experience?
I enjoy my work. When Aadigiran Kannan, Dheerga Sumangali and Gopuram turned hits on the tube including their Telugu dubbed versions, I was flooded with offers from serial makers from various channels. The roles were good enough too. So films took a backseat as I started concentrating on television serials. Initially I worked for two or three serials per day but now I am concentrating on one serial each day. Mittikattu, the Malayalam remake of the hugely successful Mettioli is now running in its fourth year in succession from Monday to Friday on Surya TV. What more can I ask for? But the temptation from the big screen and the adulation it generates are different.
How did you learn acting?
First of all I started all this just as a hobby. And then I got involved and today I love my profession. I observe a lot and the director’s guidance is always there.
Is this dance rehearsal that you are doing today aimed at a comeback to films?
(laughs) No. This is for the popular television show Maanaadu Mayilaadu on Kalaignar TV. There is a special competitive section for its serial actors and I am a participant as the lead actor in Kalyana Parisu.
Naresh