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Standing tall

LIZA GEORGE speaks to Ajay Kumar who is planning a movie based on his life

DREAMING BIG Ajay Kumar says he prefers to do his own stunts in movies

Despite being the shortest hero in India, Ajay Kumar stands tall amongst his colleagues. His role in director Vinayan's `Atbhuta Dweep,' in which he played the prince of a dwarf kingdom, won him a special jury mention.

This movie, which had 300 dwarves acting together, is now being remade in Tamil (`Arbudhateeve'). "There are only a couple of changes in the movie. The rest has been dubbed," he says.

The actor has completed a script which, he says, is autobiographical. "I am now looking for a person to write the screenplay. The movie will hopefully be out in 2007," says this economics graduate, who hails from Kottayam.

While movie buffs can soon catch him on the big screen in Vinayan's `Athisayan,' a first of its kind Malayalam science fiction movie that stars Jackie Shroff and Kavya Madhavan, tube viewers can catch him in Shashi Shanker's `Pakru Police, IPS.'

"A lot of graphics has been used in `Pakru Police, IPS.' I actually stand tall," says the actor who refuses to divulge anything else. He will also be appearing in a Tamil comedy show.

Despite the popularity through movies, it was the mini-screen that propelled Ajay to stardom. Television programmes such as `Savari Giri Giri,' `Cinemala,' `Five Star Thattukada' and `Bhariyamar Sooshekya' made him a household name.

`Unda Pakru'

Ajay, who is better known as `Unda Pakru' for his role in his first movie `Ambili Ammavan,' entered the world of movies through mimicry. "I participated in many mimicry competitions while in college. It was during such a competition that Veloor Krishnankutty sir saw me and decided to cast me as Unda Pakru, a character in the movie. The name stuck," he says.

After `Ambili Ammavan,' came a list of movies such as `Police Diary' and `Andharjanmam.'

"But it was `Joker' that gave me a break in movies," says the actor, who then went on to act in movies such as `Meesa Madhavan,' `Shymam,' `Kudaram' and `Kunji Kunnan.'

"I believe the people's concept of a hero is no longer that of a strapping young man. I think people now want a person who can act and carry off the part well; an actor. This could be the reason why viewers have accepted me," he says.

Conquering all odds

Says this actor who has conquered all odds, "I have faced taunts and I do lose out on roles due to my height, but my parents and my wife, Gayatri, help keep my morale up."

Ajay is, however, finicky about the roles he chooses. "I do roles that I feel I can do justice to and which I find challenging as an actor," says this actor who prefers to do his own stunts.

In the Tamil movie, `Dishum,' Ajay plays a stunt man who performs stunts for children.

Ajay who enjoys doing comedy roles he does not like forced laughter. "I do not like cracking a joke just so the audience can laugh. I want them to laugh because a situation is genuinely humorous; not laughter for laughter's sake," he says.

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