It’s not easy to get hold of Bobby Simha. Not anymore. As he runs from the sets of one film to another, often in the same day, he confesses of instances where scripts overlap in his head. It is in between shots that he grants an interview over the phone. Excerpts:
It seems as though you’re on a signing spree. After a great start, isn’t it time to take things slow?
Earlier, it was a question of getting noticed; now, it’s a phase of survival. I realised that anyone with a certain amount of luck can get a couple of chances to act, but you need talent to survive here.
Last year, I completed eight films in eight months, and my health took a beating in the process. I now plan to cut it down to just two or three films a year.
But honestly, these are roles I wouldn’t want to be taken away from me… even if it means having to work 24/7.
Have you finally reached a point where you’re working only on films that excite you?
Yes! The directors come to me now. But I’m quite clear about roles I want to be doing. I’ve learnt to reject scripts, and more importantly, I’ve learnt to say ‘no’ without hurting anyone.
The industry has a habit of offering you the same role once they realise you’re good at it. I don’t want to be identified with any one image; that’s why I’m working on so many different movies. I even joke that I haven’t had time to get married ( laughs ).
Hopefully, my other long-time dream—building a house—should come true soon.
Getting back to movies, you’re playing the lead in Ko 2 . Do you remember watching the first part?
I watched it in Sangam theatre and I absolutely loved it. I loved the way KV (Anand) sir handled the script. At that time, I remember watching Ajmal’s role and wondering how I would have played it. I never imagined I would play the lead in its sequel.
How much has life changed after Neram, Soodhu Kavvum and Jigarthanda ?
My loans are not as scary ( laughs ).
Professionally, I feel a lot has changed... people now call me ‘sir’. There were directors who dismissed me saying ‘ Thambi, moonjiye paaru ’ (look at your face) when I approached them for roles. Now, some of those directors have become my friends.
As a person though, I’ve tried to remain the same. My favourite thing in the world is still my mom’s paruppu rice with avakka urga .
Was winning a National Award ever part of your dreams?
Namma idhuku worth ille (I’m not worth it), I used to say to myself whenever the National Awards were announced. But it has happened and I thank Karthik Subbaraj. I decided to pursue acting full-time when I was 23, and I'm 32 now. During this period, I was lucky enough to mingle with a lot of good people who were happy to help a nobody like me. I was focussed during this period, and I acted in 25 short films. This removed my fear of the camera and my training in Koothu-p-Pattarai taught me how to become a character from an actor. Not every aspiring actor gets these kinds of opportunities. Of course, one needs to be focussed and humble.
When I was an extra for atmosphere shots in films, my friends said they would give me a treat if I was able to get a one-minute role in a movie. My dream was just to be seen on 70 mm then.
What about your dreams outside of cinema?
As a kid, I was crazy about the Mitsubishi Lancer. I’m glad I got to buy one. I even tried to buy the red Mercedes from Jigarthanda and I told the producer I would pay him more but he sold it off to someone else ( laughs ).
I’ve heard you do a lot of acting exercises every day.
Yeah, some of the acting exercises have become a part of my daily routine now. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is a set of mirror exercises.
I just stare at myself in the mirror and light a cigarette. At times, I even smoke three cigarettes as I stare at the mirror.
