As actors fall over their feet to sign films, Arya’s different. He was the same even as a newcomer — choosing to go with unusual roles every now and then, including in films like Avan Ivan and Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai. “Only such films seem to interest me,” he says. Excerpts from a conversation with the affable actor:
It has been more than a year since you had a release.
I have been working on Kadamban for quite some time. It’s the most toughest film of my career. I spent more than 100 days shooting in forest areas around Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Thailand. It involved walking a lot, climbing mountains... We didn’t have comfortable transportation facilities. Sometimes, we didn’t even have access to restrooms. We used walkie-talkies while shooting because communication signals weren’t strong. But the film is worth all the effort and pain.
We heard you shot amid a lot of elephants.
It may sound interesting and adventurous, but in reality, we were pretty scared. I’ve heard enough stories of elephants trampling people. Thankfully though, it all went well. I love elephants, but it was intimidating to stand amid 60 of them. (Laughs). It was tough to shoot these portions as none of us could predict how the animals would react. Slowly, I got to learn how to stand on their tusks and do a flip. It was tricky! Also, elephants get agitated easily when they’re in groups. We only had good experiences though. In fact, when shooting a scene, our cinematographer slipped and fell down. Believe it or not, an elephant stood by his side until we resumed the shoot.
What’s in the film for the audience?
It’s a mass entertainer that is also emotional. It’s a story that’s realistically told. There isn’t much melodrama or dramatic twists; it’s all subtle, and yet, gripping. The film also has many elements, including fantasy and romance.
What about your character?
I play a tribal man. I had to work really hard on my body for the role. I worked out five hours every day, and followed a strict diet regime. I thrived on proteins; I still do, I’m preparing for my role in Sangamithra.
What prompts you to pick these roles?
I get bored playing the same roles. I’d rather not have it too easy. That said, I disagree about the divisions between commercial and pure cinema. To me, commercial cinema means making films for profit; and isn’t that what every film attempts to do?
Perhaps it’s this urge to do a variety of roles that got you doing a full-length role in last week’s Mammootty-starrer, The Great Father...
I have done a couple of cameos in Malayalam cinema before. Since I am the producer of The Great Father, I tried casting somebody else, but it didn’t work. Eventually, I had to play the role of a crime branch officer myself.
You’ve had your hands full, considering you’re also a part of Santhana Devan and Sangamithra.
We’ve already started shooting for Santhana Devan. It’s a typical Ameer film. My brother Sathya is also part of it. The film is based on jallikattu and will capture rural life. Sangamithra, meanwhile, has a huge star cast including Jayam Ravi and Shruti Haasan. It’s an ambitious project, which will be made in multiple languages. It’s a privilege to be a part of a project that’s costlier than Baahubali.
With some actors turning filmmakers, have you ever considered directing?
(Smiles) No, I am not mature enough to direct a film.