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Big success, bigger dreams

Gaurav Kapoor aka Ajay, a popular face on the small screen, is ready to make a foray into cinema

STRIKING SCREEN PRESENCE Ajay

Tamil cinema may have its larger-than-life heroes dominating the big screen but on the small screen in serials it is the women who call the shots. All the top serials on television revolve around women, so much so that when a male star hogs the limelight, it comes as a surprise. It is Ajay hour on Sun TV from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, as he features in "Kolangal" and "Selvi", the two most successful soaps on the channel.

Gaurav Kapoor alias Ajay is a Punjabi born in Kapurthala but had his education in Chennai. His USP is his good looks, distinct body language and his accented dialogue delivery. Ajay, who has a passion for the medium, began with serials such as "Agnisakshi" and "Salanam" on Vijay TV before the big break came his way when he played Aditya, the suave businessman, in "Kolangal."

A surprise

On his popularity, he says, "I am surprised by the reaction of people, be it when I am in Singapore, the U.S. or even a remote village in Tamil Nadu. They simply love the characters Aditya and Amarlingam in the two serials that I am doing and I am sure I will not be able to enjoy this fantastic reach if I were in cinema."

On why he chose to do negative roles in both the serials, Ajay is quick to defend himself. "I play a negative role only in `Selvi.' In `Kolangal', my character is that of a good son, a good husband and a loving brother, but somehow I just hate Abhi, played by Devayani. Even in our day-to-day life, we start disliking a person for some unknown reason. Similarly, Aditya considers Abhi his competitor and wants to somehow see that she never reaches the top."

Ajay says "Kolangal" proved to be the turning point in his career. "Tell me, which hero on the small screen gets an introductory scene that lasts 19 minutes? And the way I enacted the scene where I walk into my office and take over the responsibilities, struck a chord with the viewers. For my success, I have to thank Devayani and Radhika, who are a perfect foil to the characters I play."

He also gives credit to Tiruchelvam, the director of "Kolangal".

Says the actor with his charming smile, "I am very careful about what I wear and how I look. You will find I don't repeat clothes, have a different body language, mannerisms and dialogue delivery. For `Selvi', I used the punch line `Yo.. Yo..', which has become a huge hit, and the way I laugh is inspired by Al Pacino's character in `Devil's Advocate'. Incidentally, Pacino is my hero."

On every television actor's dream of making it big on the big screen, Ajay says TV artistes are more spontaneous and it is a myth that they cannot be successful in films. He says, " If a Shahrukh Khan or Madhavan can make it big, why can't I? In fact, I want to enter films with a bang — a big banner, a good character and not the usual villain's role."

SREEDHAR PILLAI

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