Himanshu Guru
Movies buffs in Orissa who may not recognise him by name have surely appreciated his flawless performance as the baddie of the Rajnikant-starrer Sivaji the Boss that released to packed houses in 2007. Meet Suman Talwar who has starred in a staggering 500 films made in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. He has acted in the Hindi flick Gabbar is Back where he was cast opposite Akshay Kumar. One of the frontline actors of the south Indian movie industry, the versatile artiste is keen to work in the different regional film industries. He has also acted in the Hollywood film Death and Taxis. The actor was in Bhubaneswar recently to shoot for a bilingual movie to be made in Oriya and Telugu. Sunday POST chatted with him on his momentous onscreen journey and the distinctive qualities that make a successful actor. Excerpts from an interview:
What prompted you to work in an Oriya flick?
The Oriya and Telugu film industries are interrelated. I have seen many south Indian films being made into Oriya. So I am not new to the Oriya film industry. I signed the film after going through the script and assessing my role. I want to explore my acting aptitude in different languages. After working with many Oriya actors, especially Bijay Mohanty, I was convinced I had not taken a wrong decision.
How memorable has been your first visit to Orissa?
I am enjoying staying in Bhubaneswar. I have visited the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri and was mesmerised. The film has scenes that were shot in Bhubaneswar. This is my first visit to the state and I will carry back fond memories.
What are the criteria you accord primacy to before signing a film?
Is there any particular character you prefer to play?
I have essayed multiple characters but I love playing certain characters like farmer, doctor or soldier. These people bear the optimum pain to ensure the wellbeing of others. The country relies on farmers for food. Doctors put all their time, energy and effort to cure the ailing. It often happens that relatives of a patient hesitate to go near her (due maybe to the fear of viral transmission) but doctors are always there to attend to patients. Finally, soldiers stand guard on the boarders to ensure the safety and security of the country. I love to bring their untold stories of pain and dedication before the public.
How did you get into acting?
When I was in Class X I used to practise martial arts. I was good and went on grabbing one belt after the other. In a short while I was the proud owner of a black belt. Soon, I was asked to train students. One of my friends, a mechanic, who was trying to get into acting, recommended me to the producer of my first film who was looking for a young guy for the protagonist’s role of a police inspector. He was on the look out for a fresh face as the role had many new elements. My friend praised me so highly that the producer once visited the place where I used to practise to gauge my skills. He was impressed and offered me the role. I confessed I lacked knowledge of acting but he was okay with that. That was how I landed my first offer. On the first day of shooting, everybody clapped and admired my scene execution; however, I was not satisfied. I started watching films and joined a dance class subsequently. I watched about four films a day and slowly picked up the requisite skills.
Why do you prefer to step in to the shoes of a villain on the big screen?
In Sivaji… I was told my role was at par with Rajnikant’s which was indeed alluring. Secondly, the baddie is a character who has ample scope for acting. Unlike the hero, a villain can smoke, drink and rape a girl. He is a normal man like the rest of us. For a hero, there are limitations. He cannot do anything wrong; otherwise the audience would form a negative impression. So, as a villain the scope for acting is greater.
Is there anybody you consider your mentor?
I have accepted Rajnikant as my modern guru. There are many things to learn from him. Once during the shooting of Sivaji… we delayed the lunch break to complete a particular scene. We had already been tipped off that a big group of Rajni sir’s fans was waiting at the studio gate to meet him. When the scene ended it was almost 2.30 pm. But Rajni went straight to meet them and later took his lunch. He has patience and love for everyone and that is why he gets love in return. He is down to earth too. After shooting for a long time his original look has deteriorated a bit and he needs to use many gears to keep up his look. Normally after the shooting is over, actors want to meet their fans in their costumes (so that they look handsome). But Rajni pulls off all his gears before appearing before his fans. People not only love him on screen, but also as a human being.
Many south Indian films appear to be a little too loud and melodramatic. Does this seem unnatural to you?
Not all the south Indian films. There are realistic films as well as melodramatic ones. Sometimes melodrama is preferred. Like many people are of the opinion that if you spend time and money to watch a movie in the theatre, you should derive maximum entertainment. The film should not be like a complex novel. The exaggerated bits provide simple entertainment and undiluted relaxation is what many crave for.
What is your message for budding actors?
Your face is your id card. Preserve it. Taking a balanced diet is compulsory. Secondly, pay respect to the film unit, especially the director and producer. Director because he is the last person to portray you on screen and producer because he finances the film. Thirdly, you should be punctual on the sets. I have seen Rajni’s punctuality. If the call time is 6 am you can find him sitting on the location at 5.55. And finally, you should have at least one asset like acting, dancing or fighting to recommend you. For me it was action. Even if you are a star son, people will only bear with you in your first film. But from the next film onwards you need to showcase your strengths and skills.
Photos: Shyamaghana Mohanty