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Reality check

Srikanth believes in portraying reality.

FRANK SPEAK Actor Srikanth

Srikanth has reason to believe that blessings often come disguised. The actor can actually be thankful for not making a mark as an action hero. For, it is debatable whether he would have bagged offbeat roles, had he been stereotyped as a hero, devoted to social welfare and possessing an almost superhuman ability to fight evil. If he had fallen into that rut, would he have played the anti-hero in Varnajaalam where he professes one set of intentions, while acting under the influence of another? Or the vulnerable youngster in Uyir who has a miserable time fending off the advances of his unscrupulous sister-in-law who stoops to great lows to have her heart's desire? Or the husband in Parthiban Kanavu who chases a fancy, while ignoring the good luck that has come in the form of a devoted wife?

Every role, a challenge

These acting assignments that have come early on in his career have matured him as an actor. But there is always scope for histrionic skills to grow and even the best of actors cannot at any point claim they have fully developed their talent. Every new role poses a new challenge; good for Srikanth, he knows it. For his role as a petrol bunk worker in his latest film Kizhakku Kadalkarai Salai (or ECR), he frequented petrol bunks. In his upcoming film Sadhurangam, he plays a journalist. To portray the character, he says he drew upon his experience, bringing out an issue for a media house. "The stint required me to pick the brains of celebrities". At a time when Tamil cinema seems to be breaking away from fossilised images, Srikanth's belief in taking reality onto the screen could stand him in good stead. "I always pay close attention to detail. If you are an actor, you have to. The situation permits no option," says Srikanth. "And I like to interact with people. My characters borrow a lot from these interactions."

During the chat with Srikanth, there are signs of two great qualities — sincerity and frankness. The actor has stopped driving a car, because "a lot of people have invested in me". And when asked if he is often harassed by bothersome callers (the question had contextual relevance, because he had just inaugurated UniverCell's new showroom at Spencer's Plaza and posed amidst mobile phones from leading brands and with a boy called Akash who will receive support for his education from UniverCell), he says it has never got out of hand.

PRINCE FREDERICK

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