Hailing from a filmi family can pose a huge challenge for some. Like Gajesh. He’s the grandson of veteran comedian Nagesh, who set a benchmark in Tamil cinema with his effortless portrayal of roles. And, he’s the son of Anandbabu, who appeared in several memorable roles in the 1990s, and is widely known for his dancing skills.
Gajesh is currently awaiting the release of Kalkandu , which will mark his debut in tinseltown.
“Getting into the film industry was not an easy decision,” he says, “I’d actually finished a course in catering and hotel management, and wanted to become a chef.”
But life had different plans for him. Earlier this year, director Nandakumar approached him with a breezy role he couldn’t say no to. “The subject was really solid,” he says, “I didn’t want my debut flick to be heavy…rather, I wanted it to be an entertainer, and a film that would have audiences glued to the screen.” In this movie, a romantic comedy, Gajesh plays a college student primarily, but also gets a chance to go back to school in some flashback portions. Kalkandu has been shot mainly in Tamil Nadu, in places such as Tiruchi and Kanyakumari.
The youngster looks up to both his grandfather and father for inspiration. So, what is that one big lesson he’s learnt from watching them up-close? “Both of them stressed on the importance of timing,” he says. Ask him to elaborate and he says, “By timing, they refer to two things. When it came to going to set for any project, they were usually punctual. And, when it came to the actual canning of a scene, they were both very particular about the timing of the dialogue.” Though he’s watched all his grandfather’s films, Gajesh finds it difficult to pick one character that’s his favourite. “That’s because he gives every character he plays such a unique twist. Just watching him on screen is a learning experience for many aspiring actors,” he says.
Gajesh, who is a big fan of Kamal Haasan, with whom his grandfather has worked extensively, is looking forward to taking on more challenging roles in Kollywood. “By God’s grace, my first film has turned out well. I hope that with the good wishes of my family and all the others in the film industry, I do well in the path I’ve chosen.”
