Best known for his roles as geneticist Mohinder Suresh in the NBC sci-fi drama Heroes and as Jai Wilcox in the action spy series Covert Affairs , American actor of Indian origin, Sendhil Ramamurthy was last seen in Bollywood film Shor in the City . Currently essaying the role of Gabriel Lowen in sci-fi romance series Beauty and the Beast , Sendhil says over the telephone, “ Beauty and the Beast is a modern-day romantic love-story and drama between Catherine Chandler (Kristin Kreuk), a smart homicide detective haunted by her tragic past and Vincent Keller (Jay Ryan), an ex–military man with a mysterious past and a terrible secret.” Beauty and the Beast won the 2013 People’s Choice Award for Favourite New TV Drama.
Elaborating on his role Sendhil says: “I play Gabe Owen who enters in the 14th episode. He is an aggressive assistant district attorney in pursuit of the bad guys — one of them in particular. He is the kind who goes all out to find out who’s behind a string of murders.”
The actor adds: “What really captivates the audience is Gabe’s commitment to his job, but with time it is revealed that he has a personal connection to the whole situation involving Catherine especially. The role is intriguing for the viewer. You think he is a bad guy but then he does something that makes you think he’s actually a good person. I like the fact that Gabe can’t be classified as a totally good or a totally bad person.”
According to him, “Although portraying my role didn’t involve much homework, the challenge presented itself in the form of me having to play someone who is considered to be in a morally grey area. In real life, I’m very different from Gabe. Gabe does everything he possibly can to get what he wants.”
About the relationship that he shares with his co-stars, Sendhil says: “Though I joined halfway through the series, the entire cast was very welcoming. Kristin Kreuk is an absolute delight to work with.”
Having been in the industry for a long time now, he says: “From my Heroes days, I know that I have evolved as an actor. As you do more of something, you get better at it. Earlier, when I would bag a role, I didn’t question much, give suggestions or express my opinion to the director or cast, but I’ve learnt how important communication is especially over the last few years and that has put me in good stead.” Ask him if there are any Hollywood films he has coming up and he says: “I have just finished shooting for a film called Brahmin Bulls with the incredibly-talented Roshan Seth. It’s about a father and a son who don’t share a good relationship after the mother passes away. It revolves around them working to fix what’s broken.”
And what about doing another Bollywood film? “ Shor and the City was fun. I have been telling Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK who directed me in Shor in the City to do another film with me. And we’re hoping to do a project soon,” says Sendhil.
Before he hurries off to shoot for the day, the talented actor says: “Indian cinema is evolving thanks to the young breed of directors. Everything is becoming global. We have Indian actors in the U.S. who are doing a fantastic job, especially on television, but we need to see more of them in films and I think now is the time for Indian directors to take this to the next level with more crossover films.” In the U.S., there’s just about a fortnight left for this season of Beauty and the Beast to air, and Sendhil is obviously hoping there will be another.
Beauty and the Beast which premiered in India on March 25, airs every Monday to Thursday at 10 p.m. on BIG CBS LOVE.
