Basking in the success of KS Ravikumar’s Kannada-Tamil bilingual Kottigobba 2 and Mudinja Ivana Pudi, Sudeep is clear about his priorities. Maybe that’s why he chooses hardcore commercial films, which fetches him frenzied and widespread fans.
One of the top stars in Kannada cinema, acting, he says, made him the man he’s today. “When I sign a movie, the comfort level I share with the director matters the most. After Puli, Mudinja... marks my return to Tamil cinema. It was great working with Ravikumar. He made it easy for me to focus on work. In fact, I was excited by the script. All of us were thrilled to come together for such a project,” he adds.
So, how does he cope with the pressure of success? “It has been 20 years since I ventured into acting. I’ve dabbled with direction, production, screenwriting and even playback singing. I love cinema and whatever I am doing. Also, I’ve been blessed with an amazing set of fans and followers, who encourage me so much. Even during failures, they have stood by me. In between my work schedule and hectic days, I find time to get in touch and interact with them on Twitter. Whenever I see their love, I am humbled and touched. I can’t ask for more,” he shares.
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udeep believes that when you’re in your comfort zone, you’ll generally do well. “To sustain things, you need to believe in yourself and think good. However, I have learnt to see life beyond success and failure. The same concept applies to life. I can always tell you what I don’t want. That way, I know what I want to focus on more,” he smiles.
Having come from an affluent family, the Aryan actor takes acting more as a passion than a livelihood. “I like to do different things. I zero in on projects that interest and excite me as an artiste. And I am not here for money! I am here for people. I think with the heart, and not with the brains,” he observes.
And what’s the best part of being an actor? Pat comes the answer: “To be able to play many different characters and the fact that I can be anybody,” he laughs.
Sudeep is not too happy with the image that he can only play a baddie in other languages. “I did Mudinja... only to break that perception. Be it films like Naan Ee (2012) or Baahubali (2015), they brought out the actor in me. Mudinja... brought out the performer in me. I slip easily into any character that I am supposed to portray. I am not particular about languages at all. I speak, think and listen to only one language, which is cinema,” he explains.
What’s next? “I want to be seen in different films in the future. Every director is different. A Rajamouli is different from a Ravikumar or a Chimbudevan. I believe it’s important to be on the same page with them especially in what the film wants to convey. I am open to anything,” he grins.