Despite being the son of a film producer, Shailendra Babu, life wasn’t served on a platter to Sumanth. The actor had to train to be part of Dilwala, the film that is being seen as a re-launch vehicle for Sumanth. “It is always an advantage being a producer’s son (in the film industry). That’s how I entered the industry as a kid since I would tag along with Dad on the sets of his various films. That’s also how I developed my interest in cinema. It is but obvious to carry on what your father is into and so also I chose to be here. No doubt, my father has laid the stepping stone for me and I should feel lucky about it. But what everyone should understand also is that being a producer’s son, the expectations of me are higher. The public, the directors and the industry, all want more. I have to satisfy everyone. So I have to work doubly hard for any appreciation than other actors.”
Now that he is re-introducing himself with Dilwala, will Sumanth be able to steal the limelight he couldn’t with his debut film Atta? “I chose Dilwala after going through hundreds of scripts. In fact, there were offers for a remake but those films wouldn’t have showcased me as a new hero. For Dilwala, a lot of thought went into the team. We watched director Anil Kumar’s first film, Shakti, before he came on board. He is also very good writer. Of course, the experience Radhika Pandit brings is an added advantage,” Sumanth explains.
Dilwala, according to him, is a love story for today’s generation. But Sumanth assures that this will be different from regular masala flicks. “Today cine-goers watch films for entertainment, so definitely the story can’t be as mundane as common life. That would completely bore them. We have given many twists in the story, even in the sequence where I am proposing to the girl. Dilwala will be a complete package of commercial cinema,” says Sumanth, who is confident that Dilwala will kick-start his film career. “The trailers and songs have been getting good responses. Today, we have movies doing well without a strong script to back them. Compared to current films, Dilwala has a good story and entertainment value too,” he adds.
Sumanth had to put in extra effort for two scenes in the film. “Riding a horse in midst of heavy city traffic was difficult. Everyone is aware how our roads are. Getting the act right with a horse in the real traffic was extremely difficult. The other tedious task was the proposal because it was not that I just had to say, ‘I love you’. The proposal had to be made with dialogues and expressions with scenic beauty to match. Since I have never proposed a girl in real life, I could not feel the scene and so I found it difficult when I proposed to Radhika on-screen ,” he admits.
As the date of release draws closer, a nervousness sets in. But the one-film old actor says the butterflies set in only during the first day, first show. “I did not get nervous even when performing in front of experienced artistes like Radhika and Ravi Shankar since I am sure of what I do. Now it is left to the public,” he adds.
This young actor is open to working with other banners and is already in talks with other directors and producers. He says, “I have okayed my next script, details about which I will reveal once Dilwala is in the theatres. It is based on a true story and is quite controversial.”