On top of the world
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Siddharth, an MBA, refused lucrative jobs to follow his passion in filmmaking. He turned actor instead with "Boys." He talks about his latest hit, "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana," and the Hindi film with Aamir Khan.
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SIDDHARTH, AN MBA from Mumbai, has refused 14 job offers to follow his dream ... that of becoming a film director. While assisting Mani Ratnam, during the "Kannathil Muthamittal "days, he interacted extensively with writer Sujatha and bagged the role in Shankar's "Boys."
For this 25-year-old, writing and directing are a passion and he enjoyed working as Mani Ratnam's associate director.
"Boys" may not have been a great launch vehicle, and his mentor's much hyped bilingual "Aayitha Ezhuthu," where he plays a cool dude, did not create any impact at the box office either. However, his latest, "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana," in Telugu, is turning out to be a blockbuster. In it
he plays the hyperactive, unpredictable and lovable Santhosh, a rich NRI kid who becomes a farmer to win over his love, a village belle.
Strangely, Siddharth, who is being offered eight figure salaries by top Telugu banners, has gone ahead and signed a Hindi film in which he will share screen space with Aamir Khan.
In this exclusive interview, Siddharth speaks to The Hindu: Excerpts: What, according to you, worked in favour of "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana" that turned it into a blockbuster?
I am convinced that cinema in our country is a question of faith. In hindsight, the "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana," magic is being attributed to producer and writer M. S. Raju's faith in me and Prabhu Deva, who directed the film. It is easy to analyse a film's success after it happens. I believe that the film is a wonderful synergy of Prabhu Deva's freshness and M. S. Raju's strong emotional content.
It is inspired by a few Hindi films of the past. But the presentation and packaging are good. Anycomments?
The great Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" was inspired by our own K. Bhagyaraj's "Andha Yezhu Naatkal." Did anyone care? Having said that, I won't, however, defend the script of "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana," as I didn't write it. The film leaves the audience thoroughly entertained and satisfied, which is rare nowadays. I am really proud of it as the entire industry in Chennai saw the film at private screenings. That has never happened before, and it speaks volumes of the film's impact.
Why have you not signed any new films at a time when you are hot (property)?
Some things happen because they are meant to. I signed Mani Ratnam's "Aayitha Ezhuthu" before my first film "Boys" was released, and signed "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana," before "Aayitha Ezhuthu" was released.
Around that time, I got a call from Mumbai for a Hindi film, which I turned down.
But they sent me a bound script and after reading it, I signed for it the next day. It is in English and Hindi, titled "Rang De Basanti," directed by Rakesh Mehra, an ad filmmaker who had made the thriller "Aks." It has Aamir Khan in the lead, and I play a parallel role.
This will keep me occupied for another five months after which I will do my next Telugu film depending on the script. I believe that the story and script is the king.
Have you made up your mind on whether you want to be a director (you were an assistant to Mani Ratnam) or a full-fledged actor?
My current mantra is that I am acting with an aim to direct one day. My pedigree is becoming enviable — Shankar, Mani Ratnam, M. S. Raju, Prabhu Deva and now Aamir Khan and Rakesh Mehra.
I am still learning a lot about cinema, which is my passion, and direction is definitely on the anvil, when and how, is anybody's guess!
SREEDHAR PILLAI
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