Check these out

Okay.
So I get to do interviews with some of the most interesting people in the field of arts. How many actually get to read them? A couple of thousands? Maybe a few hundreds? And how many are going to be reading them out here? In this cyber jungle?
I really don't know. But the thing is, these are some cool views. So if you do get a chance to browse through........

The place where he is he can afford to be pricey, distant and with attitude. And its not just because he is someone with such a huge fan following. Apart from being a star in every sense he is also someone with tremendous skills when it comes to portraying a character on screen and as a testimony to that is the fact that awards have come by the dozens. But even if that were an obvious sign of his formidable talent it is the common man who knows that here is an actor who believes in whatever he takes up. And in that belief he brings conviction, sincerity and an edge over others. he therefore is high on that list of dream actors to work with- a man who passion for cinema translates into a dedicated following and adherence to a role- be it of any size- and then sits back to watch the impact he makes.
Meeting him in Kolkata as he shoots for an extended schedule of Mani Ratnam’s Raavana, he reminds one of how he casually endears himself to all those around him. A sense of being grounded also makes him empathetic to people around him and he invariably goes that extra mile to ensure that one is not left stranded. And this quality is something that one has seen over the years in all the interaction one has had with him. You just know that with Vikram around things will get done. One gets talking as he waits to be called for his shot and you discover the passion and commitment to what he does is so completely inherent.


Things happening right now
A lot of excitement, because I’m working with my dream director. It is like a long extended workshop cum holiday-- Chalakudy, Madhya Pradesh and now here at Kolkata. We have been working almost continuously.
The experience that is now
I like working like this. Even with Bala it is like that. When we do a film we just get into it. If it takes time that is ok. There are no distractions this way. And I think this would be one of my most strenuous films. Chalakudy was about rocks and forests; Kolkata is totally dust and all of us are coughing and sneezing in every scene; and Madhya Pradesh was cold and misty.
The preparation that goes into it
Characters evolved as per the scene. Mani Sir is trying to do something that is different –that’s his style. Every scene is out of the ordinary. Forget about whether the film is going to be a hit or not, it is an experience. Every scene is like going to war.
The way it is approached always
There is no easy way out. Even if it is in the middle of the water maybe or under the waterfall, Mani sir will say, ‘’do it this way’’. He will push, push, push – under the waterfall he will,’’ say don’t blink. I don’t want you blinking in the shot.’’ Every scene I think ‘my God we did it!’ I am not exaggerating. When you see the film you will know.
An experience of a lifetime
It is fantastic. It is my dream. I have always felt I needed to work with him right from when I was in college. I would think that if I act with Mani sir and Shankar sir (Shankar sir came little later) I will retire. And he has not let me down in my expectations.

Getting into the skin of the character
I simply get into the character. My brand of performing—acting—is, I will try and get into that look and character. Which is why I am saying I love it when its a long schedule. I like being by myself. Now if I am a brute in this movie, I am going to be like a brute. I am going to be very callous. I am going to be very crude. When I was doing Pithamagan I was like that.
Its all a continuous process
For me, it is a continuous process. Yet I keep one side open. I am going to be rigid about it. But in Pithamagan I am very rigid because Bala and I had already decided that this is how it is going to be. If you take Maja I felt it was the film I enjoyed most in making. Kandhasamy is another film where I have tried out everything. Susi is like that. If I say Susi have you ever tried surfing? And he will make a scene out of that. Bala’s Pithamagan is a film I evolved as an actor. Bala is a creator par excellence. He is in a different range altogether. I am not a creator. But as an actor when I am with him, I become like a creator.
The passion keeps it going
Kandhasamy is again a tough film. Susi would take a lot of shots and each one would take a lot of time. Every shot is perfect. So five seconds of a shot would have taken the whole day. In those five seconds you expect that exact, that particular emotion, which will encompass everything in that character. And no, I don’t lose my patience because I sit around and take my time.
The face behind the macho image
I like fights; it has nothing to do with what is going on. I just cannot seem to do soft, romantic roles. That seems to be my problem. It is so strange. The movies I watch are always romantic, soft comedies, feel good films. I’ve only watched films like My Best Friend’s Wedding and 50 First Dates and things like that. I am trying to tread two paths--do films that are totally performance oriented or do films where the character is very powerful and aggressive.
A case of being in a place that needs a macho look
No. Rajini Sir came in doing different roles. After a particular point, he got into this hero thing. Kamal Sir was always doing the same thing, but after a particular point he changed over to this. For a long time, I was not caught in any image. But I cannot do a soft film and make it run. And then there is a paucity of scripts in Tamil. It does not seem to be like that in the Hindi industry. I would for instance love to do what Akshay Kumar is doing; Shahrukh is doing, Farhaan Akhtar is doing.
The lure of Bollywood
No, not really. I’m totally happy with what I am doing here. I am comfortable with the language and this is my terrain. If the director says something, I would know I what I am doing. I don’t want to be in a movie where I need to understand my dialogues first. I am very happy in Tamil. Not just Tamil, its South India-- Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada. I would only work on another Mani Ratnam movie or probably a Rakesh Mehra film; a Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Or a Dil Chahta Hai-- I love that kind of a film.
An actor par excellence
I would love to work with Aamir Khan. I think he is fantastic. In India we always think that a director is someone who does his own scripts--abroad they get stories from someone and recreate it on celluloid. How Aamir translated a script onto the screen is fantastic. When I saw Taare Amen Par I was so taken in.
Script and story matters
At some point, I think every actor will want to do something like his own script or direction. Five years or ten years down the line I will surely be doing something like that. Come to think of it, all of us are assistant directors. In every film I think I am an assistant director—to Mani Ratnam, Bala, Shankar. Sometimes every actor wants to direct and I’ve always wanted to direct.
Direction and me
I would love to do adventure films. Or something that is totally performance based. I would love to direct films that are totally not mainstream at all or do something that is total joy. It has to be a wholesome entertainer.
Working with Aishwarya and Abhishek- an experience that is great.
Abhishek and I have been friends for long. The moment he is there is vibrancy on the sets. As soon as a shot is over, he will come and tell me, ‘’Kenny Sir, this place- it’s little tricky. Watch this stone and there is this route and when you stand there. ‘’ Or he will say,’ I don’t think you need to worry about glycerine, because its a long shot.’’ Likewise, when I finish my shot and come, I’ll tell him,’’Abhishek, this is it. It’s damn nice.’’ As for ash I think it is very difficult being Ash-- being the most beautiful woman in the world and people always watching her. On the sets, she is professional to the core. As a co-star very encouraging.
Looking back
I had all these dreams of what I wanted to do-- this long struggle. Suddenly, I reached a point where I went beyond what my dreams were. Now I have gotten into that zone where I am very comfortable doing what I love doing, doing it with the best people around. I feel a deep sense of contentment and happiness. Make your hobby your profession and you never have to work one day in your life, which is exactly what I am doing. I have reached that point where I want to do other things, for instance, I’ve started singing, which is not going to be a profession. Like that direction some time.
The urge to move is also there
Yet I am very restless in the sense there is a Selvaraghavan film in the offing and I am thinking, ‘’God! I can’t wait to get into that character. I want to do it yesterday.’’ I only feel Tamil cinema can evolve more, become more like Hindi. We were doing much better films than Hindi. But Hindi films, suddenly over the last five years because of the NRI, overseas, have evolved into something so huge. As an actor I feel we are little deprived there. We are still into only violence; we are still into only rowdism. The softer films are always small budget films.
Best film, best role till date.
Something I feel very close to is Sethu-- which is why I stuck to that Chiyan thing. That is the pot of gold after the rainbow. That rainbow took a long time to materialise. Its like my baby. We went through so much to get that baby out. As an actor, Anniyan is a role any actor would give his right hand to do. I love Dhool and Sami because they were the commercial thing. Dharini taught me this kind of cinema. Kasi and Pithamagan because of the National Award.
No film would be worth it if…
It was just for money. I want to do that perfect film, which is always happening. I want to work with directors like that. It is very difficult to convince me to do something that I am not comfortable with. I am a director’s actor. The director should feel I want to work with this guy again.
Vikram, apart from movies and acting.
What I am on and off screen, are two different people. At home my mobile phone is off. And when I am here my folks can never reach me. At home we live in this sweet little house which is somewhere in Besant Nagar where I can just go walking. I hate to be recognized; I like my space; when I go out with my family, I don’t want to be bothered. I do very normal things. I like to go to the theatre, whether its Sathyam or Mayajaal. I like to go get my own videos. I just drive by and go to the shop and get it. I like to go into departmental stores. I am comfortable in rubber slippers.
The man at home
Here there are five security people. When I go to the gym, I go alone like anybody. My kids will call and say,’’ Appa, come back this evening.’’ Why? Because they want to go to the theatre. So I become the driver. I love that.
Belief in God and Self
Of course I believe in God. And if He were to grant me three wishes, I would ask that I am an actor again in my next life. I want to be Vikram again with my family and friends. But this joy or whatever I am feeling doing all these characters- doing what I love best- I would want it to come quicker. It shouldn’t take all these years. And then I would love for this recession to take a backseat.
Wisdom and my take
Cinema and what has been made of it is because of you all. We reflect what people want. I am very thankful that people are able to appreciate the effort I am putting in. I only wish people are more open to new subjects and that encourages us too. We all live only once. We should all just enjoy life and follow our dreams.


**************************

A few of my favorite things

The color black.
Japanese food--sushi and all that.
The song Uyire. And now Miaow Miaow from Kandhasamy.
Jeans, Hawaii slippers and just some old t-shirt.
The movie Nayagan. And for a long time Gladiator.
A place I love is New Zealand.
A word I use often thank you and sorry.