Looks like Bobby Simha’s stars have aligned perfectly well. After stealing the limelight for his portrayal of Assault Sethu, a middle-aged gangster in director Karthik Subbaraj’s Jigarthanda, the actor is finally getting his due in the form of lead roles.
Starting his career with small roles, Bobby came to notice through films such as Soodhu Kavvum, where he played a kidnapper, and Neram that saw him as a comic villain. The actor who is deluged with offers post Jigarthanda will be playing the lead in upcoming films like Sakthivel Perumalsamy’s Urumeen, Pambu Sattai, Iraivi and Vallavanukku Vallavan.
But Bobby doesn’t believe in the concept of the ‘hero’ and confesses of being a tad scared by the expectations riding on him as a lead actor.
“I believe every actor is important in a film. So, it frightens me a bit when people say an entire film’s responsibility is on my shoulders as the protagonist. But I have made peace with the fact and now comfort myself with the thought that I am just an actor who is leading the script and hence have more responsibilities than the others.”
Bobby in action-thriller Urumeen plays a middle class youth who suffers from bouts of depression and hyperactivity. “Pambu Sattai, on the other hand, is a complete masala film. I am sure you will enjoy watching it,” he quips. Vallavanukku Vallavan will see him don different get-ups while Iraivi, his third film with Subbaraj, is being rumoured to be a multi-starrer.
For somebody who is known for staying in character till the end of a film, is it difficult juggling roles with different shades? Bobby says no. “From the looks to the disposition of a character, I do my homework and put in my best to make it believable. But whenever in crisis, I apply my ultimate mantra which is to surrender to the director. That is what brings out the best in me,” says the actor despite being ceremoniously tight-lipped about the scripts.
Not the one who wants to be typecast, Bobby believes an actor should try out every genre from classic to commercial and period film instead of staying comfortable in one that works best for him/her.
“If you ask me names of the directors I wish to work with, my list will be endless because I would want to work with all of them. It is beautiful how each one of them has a different vision and approach towards work and the way they transform a script into a film.”
Also planning to spread his wings to other film industries, Bobby, who has worked in Malayalam and Telugu film industries earlier, has an untitled Malayalam film on his cards this year.
He is also perhaps one actor who despite doing lead roles does not have any inhibitions regarding going back to playing character roles. “I would love to play a baddie again. That’s because a villain’s role is not limited like a hero’s. He has a lot more space to explore. It might not be another Assault Sethu, but something different. After all, no role is small or big. Hero or villain, I am here to entertain the audience and if I do it right, I will be loved and admired alike,” he adds.