He's been around for a decade in the film industry and worked with some of the best directors in the business — S. S. Stanely, Sasi, K. V. Anand and Fazil. Since his debut in 2002 with Roja Kootam , Srikanth has notched up an impressive 25 films, including the three he is currently doing. But, this year is probably his best with director Shankar's Nanban and director Ramkumar's Ethiri En 3 in progress. Besides, Srikanth has agreed to act in director Kathir's Kodai Vidumurai . Of course, 2003 was special, too. He bagged the Tamil Nadu State Film Special Award for Best Actor for his role in Parthiban Kanavu , directed by Karu Pazhaniappan.
In Ethiri … he plays a techie. “I'm able to relate to this urbanised characterisation because of my own lifestyle. But, in Nanban , playing the character originally portrayed by Madhavan in 3 Idiots , is a challenge. I feel it's a prestigious role; it provides me with a better platform to showcase my skill and will serve as a benchmark for my future projects. Nanban has happened at a time when I am ready to move to the next level of stardom. That Shankar has reposed faith in my talent and ability to reprise Madhavan's role, has made me confident about my status in the industry,” says Srikanth.
In Kodai Vidumurai , Srikanth will play a college student. “I'm in my early thirties and soon will not be able to do such roles. As you grow older, you want to play younger characters, to stay youthful, I suppose,” says Srikanth, in a lighter vein. He considers these three films milestones in his career, as they offer him ample opportunity to showcase his talent.
Srikanth rates himself 6 on a scale of 1 to 10. He says, “I've learnt a lot from every film I've acted in — hit or flop. I've grown as an actor, but still have a long way to go; there's so much more to learn. Nanban is one film that's teaching me a lot as an actor. Shankar is like a virtual film institute. He is a great actor with a terrific sense of humour. His discipline and grip over every department of filmmaking make working with him a great learning experience.”
Srikanth has been paired with many heroines in various films. But his favourites are Bhoomika, with whom he debuted in Roja Kootam , Sneha with whom he has done three films and Meera Jasmine with whom he has acted in two. “My favourite films are Parthiban Kanavu, April Madathil, Kana Kandein and Bose . I have always dreamt of acting in a Mani Ratnam film and missed a golden opportunity when he offered me Ayutha Ezhuthu . I was out of action because of an injury and couldn't give him dates. Bala is another director I would love to work with,” says Srikanth.
Known for his down-to-earth ways, Srikanth has a close circle of friends among his contemporaries in the industry. “My close buddies are Vijay, Arya, Jiiva, Jayem Ravi and a few others. We're all cricket fans and participate quite a bit in star cricket matches. It gives us a chance to chill out and bond. Some of us make it a point to meet over weekends and play poker or video games or simply hang out to unwind after a busy week,” says Srikanth.
Family, these days, is a big ‘yes' when it comes to spending quality time. Every six months, Srikanth takes a week off to holiday with his wife and two kids.
His marriage to Vandana has brought responsibility and discipline into his life. “Earlier, I never used to care much for my appearance, or where I would be seen. But I realised that as stars, our fans and the public expect us to look and behave in keeping with our screen image. My wife ensures I'm always well-groomed, and seen in the right places. This has helped me project a certain image and adopt a better attitude towards life and people. I am a calmer and better person now, unlike earlier when I came through as brash and arrogant,” says Srikanth.
Director's actor
He firmly believes it is the director who has to mould and extract the best out of an actor: “Of course, an actor has to be intelligent enough to understand what's required of him and give his best to the role. I've always believed the script is paramount and if a director has a grip of it, he can work wonders with his cast. But, ultimately, the entire team has to work in tandem for the best result. If a film flops or succeeds, it is only the actors who are held responsible.”
There have been many instances in his decade-long career, when Srikanth has missed out on plum roles, either due to injuries, of which he has had a fair share, or because one project got delayed, preventing work on another. “I must particularly mention Sadurangam by director Karu Pazhaniappan in which I worked for more than a year. I feel I have given it my best shot. I really believed in the script and the final outcome was good. For unfortunate reasons, the film has been in the cans for five years. During the period I was shooting for it, I turned down some very good offers, which would have taken me to higher levels of stardom. But, that's how the industry works; we're all part of an uncertain system,” says Srikanth.
But he has no regrets as far as his film career goes: “I have made a conscious decision to be an actor; it's the only profession I know. I have worked hard for the last 10 years to get where I am. I'm confident I can only go up the career ladder, especially after Nanban ,” concludes Srikanth, who, with his fresh, new look in the film, is sure to set many hearts afire.
