Pinkvilla : Exclusive Dhanush Interview

The first thing that strikes you about Dhanush is his shyness. He is humble, stumbles around conversations in Hindi with a simple Please bear with me', and wins you over with his lack of starry airs. Ask him about Bollywood's larger than life stars, and he is skeptical about that bit. He hasn't seen any. Ask him about "Shamitabh" - and he can't say much. But Pinkvilla chatted with him anyway, and found the conversation as refreshing as he claims his next film is!

"Shamitabh" trailers are intriguing, but give out little about the story. Please tell us what the film is about. Also, what does the title really mean?

This is a very fresh film. It has a fresh concept and has a new story. At times like this, it's very difficult to call any story as a new story. Usually it's the screenplay that is done in a new way, stories are the same. But this is a totally new story and therefore, audiences will find it very refreshing.

The title of "Shamitabh" is self-explanatory as you can see from the trailer. The rest - you must gauge and understand! I can't say more about it.

After "Raanjhanaa", you took some time to sign your second Hindi film. Why is that? Were you looking for a story that is not very common?

After "Raanjhanaa", I was offered some scripts. But I wasn't sure about them. I have always looked for solid scripts that suit me as an actor. For some of these scripts, I felt that I wasn't good enough for them. I considered if it will be right on my part to sign my second film in a hurry. And then I decided to wait. When I got "Shamitabh", I immediately signed up for it. I loved it.

It's not a question of seeking sustenance in Hind films. I am not seeking superstardom. I rent a small apartment in Andheri West (Mumbai's Bollywood dominated suburb). I visit Mumbai every month to listen to scripts. I am not looking to move to Bollywood. I am happy to work here for the right opportunity.

In Hindi cinema currently, it's very common to build superhuman bodies with 6-pack abs and 8-pack abs. You, on the other hand, seem quite comfortable to look yourself and to look normal. Would you go to the body altering space too?

I will pick roles that work for me in this age and in this stage of my life. Right now, I am exploiting my looks. For instance, in "Raanjhanaa", I played a schoolboy and a college boy convincingly. So I am happy with my body and my face for now (smiles).

Once I complete this phase - I will work on my body accordingly. A stunt choreographer once told me - that all other actors, fight with their body. But you fight with your expressions. He believed that my expressions work well enough to pull off a fight sequence. For me that was a huge compliment!

To quote you from the film's music release, are you open to experimentation here in Bollywood, rather than in Tamil films?

What I meant by saying that is that an actor can never really set out on a fixed, pre planned path. I can't predict that this is how I will act, this is what I will choose, and this is how you will be seeing me in films. You have to wait and watch - to hear from the audience as to how do they like to see you onscreen.

Down South I have been there for about 15 years. I have done quite a few films, and have found out that there's a certain manner in which audiences like to see me. With some roles, I do play around a bit.

But here in Hindi cinema, people don't know me yet. There is a lot of liberty and I can play around with that liberty. I am not doing experimental films; rather I am experimenting with my roles.

You've worked with Amitabh Bachchan in this film. And with the newcomer Akshara Hassan. What did you learn from this experience?

While working on this film, I was completely alert to learn everything that I could in a short while. I knew I would learn a lot while working with Mr. Bachchan. For me, it was like taking a short course! Hopefully, you know, I have stolen enough (acting lessons) to keep for future!

Akshara is young, and she is like a kid. She has done very well for her first film.

From Mr. Bachchan, what I learnt is that he treats every film as his first film. He is a legend! He didn't say this to me - this is something that I have observed. Every shot in the frame - he takes a lot of detail into account. Even in a wide shot, he will keep his eye on all details. This is one of the most important things that I should also follow as an actor. He is simply stupendous.

Differences in methods of working down south & in Bollywood.

Nothing. When everybody asks me this question, I am very surprised. On both the films that I worked in here, everything was run with complete discipline. We would begin shooting on time and would finish on time. I don't know why everybody assumes that working in Tamil Films and in Hindi films will necessarily be different.

What other films have you signed up for? And what sort of films would you like to do in Hindi?

I will try my level best to do all sort of films. I would love to do anything as long as the script is solid and it has a suitable character. I am open to doing comedy, a romantic comedy or a drama. I am willing to take up all kinds of films.

Since you ask, I would someday like to play a gangster in a film. I would love to try out a character like Vivek Oberoi's in "Company".

Some people say that your mannerisms and body language resemble Rajinikanth. Do you agree with that? Do you consciously try and follow his mannerism on-screen?

Like many of us, I am a huge, huge Rajinikanth fan. I am the kind of fan who has waited in queues for hours to get a first day, first show ticket for his films. He is such a huge star, and has achieved so much. Many of us who became actors have grown up on him, so its natural that some of that inspiration will show on screen. So if anyone says that some of my mannerisms resemble his (Rajinikanth's) on-screen, and that I end up doing a few things like him on-screen, I can only feel proud of that! I take that as a compliment.

I don't really do anything consciously to copy him. It just happens.

"Kolavari Di" was such a hit. Will you sing again?

See that song was just part of my fate. It had to happen and it happened. But really, I am a pathetic singer! They (producers and composer) did a lot of work on it with technology. I won't sign again as I am not good with it. It happened once. I am an actor and that is what I would like to carry on doing.