“Patience pays,” says Vasanth Ravi. “But then, waiting for an opportunity to be cast in a film was better than waiting for my début film to release for over two years. But it was during those two harrowing years that I learnt many valuable lessons about how the industry operates,” he says. His début film, Taramani (2017), was directed by Ram, and his performance was widely appreciated.
And now this doctor-turned-actor has bagged his second film, which is to be directed by Arun Matheswaran, who has assisted Thiagarajan Kumararaja.
It was in his second year of MBBS from Sri Ramachandra Medical College that Vasanth realised that acting was his calling. After completing the medical course, he joined Anupam Kher’s acting school, Actor Prepares. “This course was immensely useful, but once I got back to Chennai, I once again did a course in acting at Rajiv Menon’s Mindscreen Film Institute, and then started approaching directors and producers, but I had no luck,” says Vasanth.
“My family had become impatient by this time and advised me to pursue my masters. I knew for sure that if I pursue MD, I’d get sucked into the medical field, therefore I opted for health care management at Manchester B-School, UK, in 2012,” he adds.
Luckily for Vasanth, the UK foreign ministry changed its immigration policy when he completed his course. His post-study visa was cancelled, and unlike other international students who were crestfallen, Vasanth packed his bags and arrived in Chennai with a smile.
“I wanted to meet directors, but ended up working at Apollo Hospitals,” says Vasanth. It was while he was working at the hospital that he got a call from director Ram, and was offered a role in his film.
Post Taramani , Vasanth got many offers, but nothing worked out. Till Arun came along. “He pitched a love story first. Later, he narrated an action-oriented script which he had written for another established actor. I asked him if he would cast me in that,” says Vasanth.
The producer of the film liked the idea of casting Vasanth. “My fitness was a major factor that helped me bag this role. I have also started learning dance and am currently attending stunt classes.”
