Actor Delhi Ganesh needs no introduction. At 70, he is fit and active. Who can forget his impeccable performance in Nayagan, Michael Madana Kama Rajan and Avvai Shanmughi?
City Express catches up with the actor, who's all set to turn a producer with his son’s entry to the tinsel town, besides being busy with Kamal Haasan's Papanasam, Sarath Kumar’s Sandamarutham, and an untitled venture with director Pandiraj.
Looking back at the 38 year journey, how does it feel?
Four hundred films isn’t a joke. I never went after opportunities. They came to me. But acting was totally unplanned. It was during a stint with the Indian Air Force, New Delhi, that my colleague Thayappan, spotted my acting skills. At that time, I was doing stage plays. Then, I shifted my base to Chennai and joined Food Corporation of India. That's when I got to spend time discussing cinema, theatre with Major Sundarrajan, Kathadi Ramamurthy and Cho Ramaswamy. From K Balachander's Pattina Pravesam to R S Prasanna's Kalyana Samayal Saadham, I have seen it all!
Your association with Kamal Haasan...
I have had the privilege of being associated with Kamal Haasan for a long time. I believe that Indian cinema has not seen one actor who had been experimenting as Kamal Haasan does. My best comes out when I work with him! I did Hey Ram with him in 2000 and after that, it's Papanasam! I play his father-in-law in the film. We shot extensively in Tirunelveli, Kerala and Thodapuzha.
Cinema. Soaps. Ads. Which comes first?
Whenever I am not doing films, I act in serials. But, you got the order right. Cinema will always be my first love.
How easy or tough is to work with the youngsters?
You got to shut up and learn to appreciate the positives of people, in the first place. If you do that, the rest will fall in place. I prefer to work in an atmosphere of mutual respect. I don't isolate myself at the shooting spots. I mingle with everybody, so that I could feel young.
The producer avatar?
I was happy when my son (Mahadevan) said he wanted to act in films. I can't say much about the film though. But, A L Vijay's assistant Krishna will be directing it.
How do you see awards and recognition?
Any compliment motivates an artiste, regardless of the age, and I am no exception. I was not one of those who were rewarded with instant fame in cinema. Success took its sweet time. I have heard people saying I am a brilliant performer. Now, what more do I need? But frankly, I haven't got my due recognition.