| I can't even look at a pretty girl as I'm misunderstood - Vishal | |||||
The rest is history as Vishal became the leading young action hero of Tamil Cinema. He had 3 back-to-back hits with Chellamae, Sandakozhi and Thimiru which all became dubbed in telugu.
Vishal's next film will be made simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu with Nayanthara. It is titled Sathyam in Tamil and 'Salute' in Telugu, which had a big launch on August 15, Indian Independence Day in Hyderabad. He has recently undergone an image makeover to suit the role of an assistant commissioner who is an encounter specialist in this film. Excerpts from a chat with this young action hero: Whose idea is it to make you a hero? If you had been on that flight to Mumbai, your life would have been on a different track now. Any regrets? No regrets! Ours is a business family, but my father had entered film production, and produced films with names like Sivaji Ganesan. My passion was to direct films. I'd made all plans to apprentice with Ramgopal Varma and had almost taken the flight to Mumbai, when the offer to act in 'Chellamae' came. And I thought I'd give it a try. Then came 'Sandakozhi' and 'Thimiru', both hits. And I was hooked to acting. I'm elated because it's more than what I expected. But direction is still my passion and I'll be venturing into it in the near future.
But reportedly you have done the director's work in your films? Not all my films, just one. In my other films, I didn't have any involvement apart from that of an actor. For I was confident that the films were shaping up the right way. But yes, I do admit that in 'Thimiru', my third film, my involvement was 100%. I felt that things were not going quite the right way, and I got involved in every single aspect of the film's making. Seeing the sleepless nights I spent working on it, even my family was a little worried about my health. But all that strain was worth it, and my effort paid off when I was proved right and the film was a big success.. It did well even in the dubbed telugu version. So, any plan of doing a straight Telugu film? I've been getting good offers from makers of Telugu films. Since both 'Sandakozhi' and 'Thimiru' were big hits there. But I need a very good script to venture into Telugu. Right now I'm concentrating on my Tamil films. Maybe I'll do a Telugu film in 2008. But I'm thrilled and excited about being accepted in two States and in two languages. That too in the beginning of my career. You can take it a bit easy, as you have your home banner to fall back on, and your father and brother to guide you. True, that I didn't have to go through all that struggle newcomers with no backing have to face. No doubt I had strong support in terms of financial backing. My brother's extreme confidence in me was a morale booster too. But we too faced financial problems at one time. And again, I too had my share of heart-burns. After 'Chellame' I had to wait a long time for my second film. It was a period of tension for me. I'd heard the story of 'Sandakozhi', liked it and approached director Lingusamy. But the script was written for some other hero, and it was a long wait till i finally got to do it. Again, when it did well people said, it's a flash in the pan and he won't make it. And that had put tremendous pressure on me. So I had to prove it again with 'Thimiru'.
You are a Telugu guy. How encouraging is Tamil film industry to you?
Yes, I do feel a bit insecure. But it's not related to my acting or performance. 'If my movie bombs I'm nowhere', that's the way I've felt from my first film. So I'm very cautious before I venture into each new project.. After 'Sandakozhi' everyone said it was professional suicide to wait a year and some months to do my next film Thimiru'. But it's this cautiousness that made me wait for the right script. And my wait paid. But despite all your cautiousness, your last release 'Sivappadikaram' hasn't matched the box-office performance of your ealier films? There are some films which are liked by the masses. And others which you are happy to be associated with despite its box-office performance. 'Sivappadikaram' I consider as one of my good films. Again, one section of the audience who hadn't connected to me earlier, has liked this film. But I do admit that I would have definitely wanted it do well and keep my record of successes intact. But no regrets!
It's definitely the most important factor, considering that the whole industry revolves around this one word. Result is what is important, however different you may like to think. I too keep the result of my last release in mind before I venture into my next project. In this industry you can't be complacent. You have to be on your toes the whole time. Every film of mine I treat as my first, and with every movie I strive for perfection. You have an image of an action hero. Are you comfortable with that? Though I won't ignore the image of an action hero that the audience has of me, I personally don't want to fall in any image trap. I want to experiment with varied roles and genres right from the beginning, when my career is just taking off. In 'Thamirabharani' my last release,I had a very interesting role. And in my new film 'Sathyam',my home production, I play my first cop role. Which are the roles, heroes, directors you have been impressed by? Directors like Ramgopal Varma, Selvaraghavan, Dharani and Gautham. And of course Shanker and Maniratnam. I liked what Dhanush did in 'Kadhal Kondein' and Vikram in 'Pithamagan'. My dream role would be something like 'superman', a 'Krish', a superhuman role. But for such projects you need a good market and sound technical back-up. I want to act in and direct such a film. I've to search for a good subject, mould it and package it well. A 'James Bond' kind of sequel would be very interesting. 
Talking of sequels, it's the re-remake season with old films being rehashed. Would you be interested in doing it? Some selected ones, not all. The concept sounds interesting. I would love to act in one particular role if it's rehashed. That of Alex Pandian that Rajnikant had played in 'Moondru Mugham'. A short role, but his body language and whole performance was so good. And there's the character of the philandering aged father in 'Nettrikan'. Again it was such a splendidly performed role by Rajni. I would love to give such roles a try! Among your contemporaries, who do you feel is your competitor? Everyone! Though I wouldn't call them competitors! We all are striving for success. I rate Jayam Ravi high, as I feel he's a complete hero. My entire family too likes him. The industry is like a circle. There are about 100 films being made, but only about ten do well. My desire is that one of those ten hits should be mine.
It amuses me that when I was not a part of the industry, I used to read about others. And now it's me there! If I did have a girlfriend, I would have shouted it from the roof tops, told my family, and the whole world. It's nothing to be secretive about or be ashamed of. I don't take such write-ups seriously. But the fall back of it all is that the gossip has made me unnecessarily feel self-conscious. Like when I attend a college function, I can't even look at a pretty girl these days, in case I'm misunderstood! Finally, Om Puri once remarked that training is mandatory for an actor to sustain long in the field. What do you think? I agree with him. I myself had gone in for a three-month theatre workshop with the Koothu-pattarai theatre group. But again, I also feel that above all you have to have the talent and the determination. Patience is very important too, and the luck-factor is an added advantage. And of course the right motivation. If you want a car, and then you do a film, you'll get the car, but it will be short-lived. Go for the core and the peripheries will follow! Are you branding yourself as action hero? Who are your favorite actors? What do you think are your strengths? 
After my first movie there was a gap of 15 months. I waited patiently for an exciting script of Pandem Kodi. Lot of people told me that it is suicidal to have a break of more than a year in the beginning of the career. I also look at films from audience perspective and try to gauge which scripts would work. How old are you? Any marriage plans? What is the secret of your success? The script. The directors made sure that they prepared the scripts that suited my body language. As an actor I had a steady growth. My first film was a romantic film. The second one is action film. What is your dream role?
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Do you go through feelings of insecurity at such moments?
So, how important is success to you?
The media keeps linking you with your co-stars. Does it bother you?