The past week, two films announced their entry with a huge bang — Kamal Haasan’s Thoongavanam and Rajinikanth’s Kabali . Actor Kishore has a prominent role in both. Eight years after his Tamil debut, Polladhavan , in which he played a don with a conscience, the actor has always shown an eagerness to work with new directors. “With success comes a certain business obligation; it traps directors into making ‘regular’ cinema. Newcomers, however, are free birds,” he says. Kishore, who’s going great guns in Kannada films too (he is from Karnataka), says it is endearing that some stars have now started experimenting with their looks and roles, and are also giving importance to other actors in their films. “Like Ajith in Arrambam , a movie in which everyone was important.” Once this becomes the norm, he believes that typecasting will completely disappear.
Kishore, who works in all four South Indian languages, says he’s lucky to have met directors who have seen several characters in him — a lover boy, and a dancer among them. “When they cast me in roles that are far from my perception of myself, I feel duty-bound to give them my best — if only to respect their courage,” says the actor, citing as example his 80s-inspired look in the Kannada film, Ulidavaru Kandanthe .
Right now, the buzz is naturally all about Thoongavanam and Kabali . According to Kishore, both directors — Rajesh Selva and Pa. Ranjith — show a lot of clarity and confidence. “Both films will be good cinema with both their heart and brain in the right place. In Kabali , I know Ranjith will not typecast me. In Thoongavanam , I love that my character is not white or black. These directors show that it is possible to get creative even in star vehicles.” He also talks about the importance of good research when doing a film. “While doing Aadukalam , Vetrimaaran could compete with the best of rooster fighters.”
It isn’t every day an actor gets to work simultaneously with both Kamal and Rajinikanth. Kishore, who will be joining the Kabali team in a few days, thinks of it as a happy coincidence. On not being part of Kabali ’s team that is now prepping for the shoot, he says, “I am a lazy actor. I like to go to the sets with an open mind and give my best during the shot.”.
I saw Nayagan on television years ago. If you’d told me then that I’d act with Kamal Haasan, I would have laughed. I met Superstar during the 200th day function of Chandramukhi, thanks to actor Avinash. I’ve never forgotten the meeting.
Kishore's upcoming Tamil films:
Kadigaara Manidhargal: A film that speaks about the travails of rental accommodation.
Kalathur Gramam: A rural relationship-based story where Kishore sports two looks.
Yathreegan: A philosophical take about a person’s inner journey. I play a saint in the film.
