Man with the golden touch

This is just the trailer, my main film is yet to come, promises Golden Star Ganesh, who’s celebrating 10 years in the Kannada film industry

22bgm-CinemaSuddi-Ganesh

Actor Ganesh, popularly known as Golden Star Ganesh turns 10 as a hero in the Kannada film industry this year. He made his film debut as the lead in Chellata directed by M.D. Sridhar. The star is also 25-films old – another landmark he has reached in the time span. Another five films — Style King, Zoom, Mungaru Male-2, Pataki, and Gandu Yendare Gandu are on floor.

“ Chellata , my first film as hero was released on April 2006. Since then I have acted in 25 films and I’m currently shooting for another five films. I don’t know how time has passed. But I am happy with what I am today,” says a beaming Ganesh. “This is just the trailer, my main film is yet to come” – is how Ganesh looks back at his first decade in the Kannada film industry.

Mungaru Male directed by Yogaraj Bhat is considered to be a landmark film in Ganesh’s career. The actor initially had the nickname ‘Comedy Time’ Ganesh because of his successful show

Comedy Time on Udaya Entertainment Channel.

He earned the title Golden Star, after his unprecedented success of Mungaru Male — according to film historians, for the first time in the history of PVR Cinemas, an Indian language film ran successfully for nearly a year! The film recorded the highest box office collection in the history of Kannada cinema. Industry sources vouch that the film made a gross collection of Rs. 50 crore.

The film, besides bringing star status to director Yogaraj Bhat, made Ganesh one of the top billing stars in Kannada cinema. Now, Ganesh is acting in the sequel Mungaru Male-2 directed by Shashank.

Staying at the top for 10 years, facing stiff competition from those who are supported by godfathers in the industry is not an easy task. Ganesh owes his success to the audience. “I have given some successful and few flop films. The ration is 80: 20. I am proud of giving nine successive hits from

Mungaru Male to

Aramane . I owe this to the audience, who really loved me,” he smiled.

Ganesh doesn’t believe that there is a fixed formula for success and he is very clear that an actor has to deliver what the audience wants.

“The only way to succeed in this industry is by giving my 100 percent. As an actor I should not fail. This is what I have learnt in these 10 years,” he noted. He is not satisfied with what he has achieved so far. “So far I have not achieved anything. The real challenge is in the future,” Ganesh said. He wants to contribute to the society that has loved him and made him a star. “I want to focus on education in rural areas.”

On getting stereotyped because of the choice of roles, he has his own defence. “I am not afraid of getting stereotyped. People will watch what they want. They really don’t bother, whether an actor is stereotyped or not”.

At a time when he was doing well in films, he ventured back to the small screen. His Super Minute a 60 minute challenge for an entertainment channel, hit the right chord. “To work in TV is always a wonderful experience for me. I don’t differentiate between small and big screen. In fact TV helped me in getting on to the big screen.”, he argued.

Though Ganesh has won Filmfare awards for his performance in Gaalipata and Maleyali Jotheyali , he has not won any national or state award. “I have got the award by the audience. More than that. people consider me a good actor. That is more than a national award for me,” he said.