Siddharth Interview: Kamal Haasan gave me a chance to compete with him in ‘Indian 2’

When director S Shankar and actor Kamal Haasan Indian Siddharth was just a teenager in this film released in 1996 and he was very much in love with cinema. Just seven years later, he was launched in Shankar’s film. Boysand became a successful actor-producer who has starred in some of the best titles in three languages. According to Siddharth, what has not changed is his approach to cinema, his growing love for Kamal and his belief in Shankar’s world. Indian,

“When I saw Indian Siddharth, who is now reuniting with Shankar and working with Kamal in their much-anticipated sequel films, says, “For the first time, it made me angry at the helplessness of the common man and made me empathise with his pain.” indian 2 And indian 3“Even today I feel the same anger. That is why indian 2 Now it has become even more relevant. Nothing has changed on the corruption front, so we need a big solution that includes a lot of logical, real solutions.”

Siddharth said that the film is not just about justice done by Kamal’s character Senapathy, but he sees these sequels as an honest attempt at franchising, as it also aims to teach and guide future generations about politics, social awareness and social concern.

In this interview before the release indian 2Sidharth opened up about working with his mentors and how his character in the film is closest to his real-life personality.

Part:

Siddharth, you are now a producer and you are also working closely with young filmmakers. What do you think young directors can learn from Shankar about how he makes a film like this?

Shankar sir and I are at opposite ends of the cinematic paradigm; I am an indie filmmaker, and he is a big studio filmmaker. However, what I keep learning from him is how he rules his film sets. It is not easy, but the way he controls one of such a large scale is a lesson in itself. And from both Kamal sir and Shankar, I have learnt that anger at the wrong place is futile.

You have always been vocal about your love and admiration for Kamal Haasan. Can you tell us something about him that has had a huge impact on your life in cinema?

Twenty years ago, my list of favourite actors would have included Kamal Haasan, SV Ranga Rao, Balraj Sahni and Dilip Kumar. These are the greatest actors of India according to me. I had not met three of them, but I had seen Kamal sir from a distance. I never even dreamed that I would meet them, talk to them or show them who I am. Most importantly, acting with them was beyond my dreams. So just working together indian 2 This is a big thing.

Kamal Haasan in a still from ‘Indian 2’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

See, cinema is forever. Mani sir (Mani Ratnam) said once the camera is on, it is forever. Now I am a part of it. Indian I have become a part of this franchise forever. And as much as I have become Kamal Haasan’s student – who is a university in himself – I have also competed with him in this film. And he has allowed me to compete in a democratic way.

My biggest preparation for this film was to not let the Kamal Haasan fan in me come in the way of my acting. Kamal sir and Shankar sir also made sure that I got enough time to prepare.

You mentioned earlier that you keep some parts of your character with you even after the shooting is over. Was it the same with your character in ‘Indian 2’?

Of all the characters I have played in my career, indian 2 This is closest to my real-life personality. So, I will carry my character Chitra Aravindan with me for a long time.

Siddharth and Rakul Preet Singh in a scene from ‘Indian 2’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Pan-India is the trend in cinema now, but Shankar, Kamal and you have made pan-India films decades ago too. Did that experience and the advantage of being the first to step in help you understand the business?

I never wished to dominate a particular regional industry. If I get a chance to work in a good film, I selfishly take part in it. Secondly, I enjoy learning new languages, adopting the ways of the locals of that environment, etc. So, I did not do those films for rewards or more money. I am an actor who loves to dub in other languages ​​as much as I like my own.

Also, I am really lucky as all Tamil speakers know about it Boys And this is my identity in Tamil Nadu. Telugu people all over the world know about a film named BommarilluAnd this is my fate. The same thing applies to Hindi speakers as well. rang De BasantiAnd now, with all these languages ​​included, if there is an Indian anywhere in the world, he will be able to know about it indian 2 – It’s pan-Indian for me. Both Kamal sir and I have dubbed our lines in our own voices in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

They say that when you learn a new language, it makes you sensitive to the life and culture of that environment. Do you agree with this?

Absolutely. When you learn a new language, unused parts of your brain are used for the first time. It’s like a right-handed person using his left hand to write. Also, learning a new language teaches you empathy. Because I can understand a person’s lament in another language. It brings me closer to their pain and their reality. So if I can speak a language like the locals, I can feel like the locals.

Congratulations for the success of ‘Chitha’. After the release of the film, many people praised the film for the fact that it depicts sexual abuse, which many other Tamil filmmakers have been criticized for…

One thing I told director Arun Kumar right from the beginning was that if we were touching such a sensitive subject, we had to do justice to it. We had to make sure that it didn’t seem like we were doing it without a proper understanding of the subject, just for shock value or to make money from a sensational film. So we made a lot of efforts to ensure that that didn’t happen. Also, before the film’s release, we screened it for leading psychiatrists, child psychologists and sexual abuse survivors; if they would have pointed out something inappropriate, I would have removed it from the film.

Siddharth | Photo Credit: S Shiva Raj

Did the success of such a film give you a lot of recognition as an artist?

I didn’t do this film to get recognition, but I am very grateful for it. Because the biggest tragedy is that good work doesn’t get recognition. Making a good film is a penance. So when a film is like this blogWinning awards in so many categories tells us that that hard work pays off. So a filmmaker who sees our success will know that making real movies about real people, real pain and real hope is rewarded.

Has that success made your storytelling vision even stronger?

Whether it’s my intelligence, madness or stupidity, I’m as intelligent today as I was 20 years ago. A film won’t affect those things; for example, I’m confident indian 2 I will create history, but that will not increase my responsibilities or reduce my intelligence. No matter what happens in my life, I am the same person.

So what does the future hold for you?

I’ve been running here for over 20 years BoysFor the next 20 years, blog while the seed would be indian 2 And 3 That will be the fuel that will keep me going. This is my time, and when your time comes, you have to work at the same level and be as crazy as before. The next job is mine I am missing you And Examination Apart from the upcoming films, I have also signed three more films, whose shooting I will start soon.

indian 2 It will release in cinemas this Friday