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Hero, villain, two in one

S.SHIVA KUMAR

It's difficult to make your mark in the industry without a godfather. Kannada actor Devaraj is an exception. He is now looking forward to his role in the Tamil film Naan Kadavul

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

PERSEVERANCE PAYS The industry is reluctant to accept newcomers unless they have the `right' background

He has risen from the ranks. He's traversed from underling to gang lord to the hero who bashes the baddies with silken smoothness. His unique trait is that he can be menacing as the mean guy and macho as a police officer. Another asset is his inborn humility. His colleagues have only nice things to say about him. " Working with him was a pleasure," says Puneet who played his son in Namma Basava.

Hailing from Lingarajpuram in North Bangalore, Devraj's sole passion was theatre. He was with B. Jayashree's theatre group Spandana and later with Shankar Nag's Sanket. It was Shankar's irrepressible and infectious zeal that turned Devraj's thoughts towards cinema. Devraj first appeared on-screen in a cameo in Koogu produced by Shankar and directed by Sitaram. "Nobody who's met or interacted with Shankar can forget him," says the actor who's now donned grease-paint for more than two decades.

After lying low, the talented Tamil director Bala (of Pitamahan fame), has signed Devraj for his next film Naan Kadavul. He plays a pivotal role. You meet Devraj at his tastefully designed house to find out more.

You have not been seen on-screen in the recent past.

There's no specific reason. It' just that some changes are taking place in the industry which is natural. It happens in every industry. An actor's career is shaped solely by success and you could call this a lean period. I've not had any big success in the past couple of years. I am doing a few films though.

Is this a transition period from hero to character artiste?

I wouldn't say that because I am being offered films where I'm the hero.

You played Puneet's father in Namma Basava. The industry is ruthless in slotting people.

Yes, that was a character role. I agree with you about the industry slotting artistes. That was the first time I played the hero's father and only because they were insistent. I did that film only because of the relationship I share with Puneet and Rockline Venkatesh. I believe in the give and take policy. It still sends the wrong signals to the audiences and I have to be careful not to repeat the mistake.

You have come up from scratch and without a godfather. How difficult is it for an outsider to gain a foothold in the industry?

The industry is reluctant to accept newcomers unless they have a solid background. You have to be perseverant and wait for the audience's applause. Once that happens the industry will gladly push you up. For me it was difficult to get the first break but after that I got a lot of films. I had signed seven films even before my first release.

When did you receive your first applause?

I received it for my first film, 27 Mavalli Circle. I was applauded even though I played the villain.

How did you get lead roles?

I was very popular as a villain. Mr. K.V. Raju gave me a supporting, positive character. I played a police inspector. The film did very well and I earned a good name. Producers noticed that and signed me as a hero.

For a long time I think you'd just get up, donned the Police uniform and went to the sets!

(Laughs) Ya, for a long time. I thought it was a blessing. When it became monotonous I thought it was a curse. I did make statements that I would not play a police officer but it just stuck. Even yesterday, at a wedding a couple of old ladies said they loved to watch me as an inspector. I remember Rajnikant saying that a successful actor should not experiment too much. Just recently people loved me in Deadly Soma.

There was one phase when you appeared in projects that neither had production values nor technical competence. Were you insecure?

I agree that there was insecurity. There was a period when some people said I might no longer get lead roles. I applied a theory that backfired. I thought the more often I appeared there would be more acceptance. I did not want to be out of sight for a long time.

When you were a successful hero here you were also a very successful villain in Telugu cinema.

That's true, but I had to stop because there was a controversy here about my image getting spoiled. I am from a theatre background and it was gnawing me that I was not doing a variety of characters. I gave a gap of ten years.

I'm sure you were paid more as villain in Telugu than as a hero here.

Yes, they have a bigger market. I did not pursue things there because I thought it was better to be a CEO here than a clerk there even if you are paid better. Status does count sometimes.

I also heard that Telugu producers felt you were lucky for them.

You got it right. I don't know where you get your information from but even recently Mr. Mohan Babu cast me in his son's film. I asked him why he had chosen me. He said I suited the character, was sure about my abilities and also that I was lucky for him. It could be true too. Out of about 25 films that I have done there only a couple have failed.

Now director Bala would have thought only about your acting abilities. Did you ask him why you were chosen?

Exactly. When I got a call from Bala I was taken by surprise. It crossed my mind that he wanted to sign my son. He apologized for not meeting me personally but said he wanted me for a very important role in his next film, Nan Kadavul. I asked him why he thought of me when I was not a popular star in Tamil and am going through a lean period here. He said he had thought of me for his Pitamahan but things didn't work out then. He said he had watched Huliya and loved my performance and the film.

He is yet to talk about the storyline, but I've watched his films and am confident he'll do me justice.

One of your assets is your voice. Are you going to dub yourself?

I'm not fluent in Tamil but I will speak my own lines.

I plan to do that in Telugu too.

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