The biggest lesson Ganesh Venkatram has learnt is from the Big B, during the making of Kandahar. Amitabh Bachchan told him: ‘You are an actor, therefore, an entertainer. While the medium is important, the content and your belief in what you do are more so. Straddle everything that comes your way — TV, stage, radio, new media, live shows and films, with total conviction and see where it will get you!’
“I have been following Amitabh’s advice for some time now,” says Ganesh. “I have hosted TV shows, walked the ramp, done theatre (the recent musical Cinderella, for instance) and acted in films.” His film Achharam , directed by Mohan Krishna, is due for release on April 17. “This film will mark my entry into all three segments of audiences — A, B and C. Achharam, an oft-used term in rural areas, means confirmation or commitment. It is treated as a serious affront to one’s integrity when one backtracks on one’s commitment,” says Ganesh, who has two looks in the film — a cop and a local. He shakes a leg to a ‘kuthu’ number too.
Meanwhile, Ganesh has Guns of Benares (Hindi), a remake of Polladhavan, and Thani Oruvan slated for release this year. Things are looking up on the personal front too. “I’m engaged to VJ and actor Nisha Krishnan. We plan to tie the knot towards the end of this year.”
