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Interviewer & Text: Jyothsna |
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Shaan
Kumar……….A new actor,
entering into Tamil films through “Kadhai”,
releasing next month. At a glance, we would
think he is just another newcomer, one among
that long list of new faces that Kollywood
introduces every Friday. But, once we get
to watch his performance as a writer, in
fact, a Booker prize winner in the movie,
we tend to change our idea slightly as his
performance speaks volume on his capability
and talent so much for a first time actor.
He has in fact scared everyone as a psycho
who tortures and terrifies his lovely wife.
When we start enquiring his background,
we were truly surprised and must say shocked
to know that he is the most educated actor
of the whole Indian film industry, as a
matter of fact. Yep….Can you believe???
He has a double doctorate (PhD)…………It’s
not just that….He has written a book
for young and wannabe entrepreneurs which
will be released next month by one of the
top publishing houses of the world, Amazon.
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BW: So, how did you
get into movies? Seems like
you are from a different planet
of entrepreneurship, and how
come movies?
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Shaan:
There was this stage show
performed by small screen
actors in California and
I happen to meet Mr. Abishek,
quite a famous TV actor.
He asked me whether I
would be interested in
acting in movies. I was
little taken aback as
I had no idea about acting,
and therefore I asked
for a week’s time
to answer him. The next
thing I did was to head
straight to Hollywood
College to join a crash
course on acting conducted
by Dan Bradley, a renowned
Hollywood actor and trainer
too. He taught me the
basics of acting and I
felt more confident after
this course that I met
Abishek and said, I am
ready to act now. My mom
was a dance lover and
that might be a reason
why I could dance so easily
during my college days.
Even without knowing what
I am going to dance, I
learnt all kinds of western
dances like Hip-Hop, Break,
etc… But then, when
I got the acting opportunity
and started shooting for
the movie, I realized
how much the dance is
helpful to me. They shot
83 shots on the first
day of my shoot and all
of them got an OK from
the director on a single
take.
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"
They shot 83
shots
on the
first
day of my shoot"
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"
I sing very
well
too"
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Most of the dancers would
be more interested in
music too…So, how
are you involved in music
and what kind of music
do you like? Your favorite
composer?
Yes…You are right…I
like all kinds of music
like Custom, Aerosmith,
Rock etc… I sing very
well too. I like all the
composers here as every
one of them has a different
style as they try to experiment
in every one of their new
projects. I just love Raja
sir’s song “Janani…Janani…”
I never miss to sing this
song whenever and wherever
I perform on stage. In general,
I like songs composed on
motherhood. |
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You
sing well….You speak Tamil
very well…. You have acted
so emotionally well in the movie…..It’s
surprising to notice that you
haven’t dubbed for your
character in the movie and someone
else has lent their voice to
you…..You would miss the
chance of getting any awards
because of this…..Why?
Well, that was director’s
choice. My duty was only to
act as how he asked me to do.
I don’t interfere in anything
else other than acting. I totally
transform myself to an actor
when I enter into the shooting
spot so much that I completely
forget America, my job etc.
The fact that I had a very bad
cold at the time when dubbing
started might also be a reason
why director chose not to use
my voice. But, I have decided
to dub in my own voice for the
upcoming projects.
Your favorite actors in Hollywood
and in India?
In Hollywood, I like Brad Pitt,
Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Denzel
Washington and many more…
In India, my favorites are none
other than Dr. Kamal Hassan
who is giving a new dimension
to acting in every one of his
movies and of course, our superstar
Rajinikanth, king of style.
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So, Who do you consider
as your role model? Kamal
Hassan? Or you want to
become like Rajini, Vijay?
So
far, who ever watched
my performance in “Kadhai”,
has appreciated my acting.
I am so happy and looking
for such challenging roles
in future. At the same
time, I do not want to
restrict myself to only
such characters. As an
actor, I like to experiment
all types of characters
and it’s the public
that decide the image
of any actor. I like to
try action roles too,
but, obviously an actor
can’t keep doing
the same character again
and again. |
"I
like to try
action
roles too"
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Is there any character of any
Tamil movie that you had wished
to act in it?
Sethu….It’s a character
which would never leave my thoughts.
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Your favorite scene in “Kadhai”?
Climax. I was very disturbed
emotionally after I watched
the climax episode. I am very
sure people, ladies in particular,
would love the climax. But,
I am not sure whether they would
like my character in the climax,
as I myself found it frightening.
But, right from our superstar
to Sathyaraj and Prakashraj,
they got introduced only in
such negative characters that
gave them immense popularity
and fame. So, I too feel very
happy to act in such a negative
role in my first movie.
What is your ultimate aim that
you want to achieve in the Film
Industry? |
"
Movies play a
major role in taking
culture
to an individual
all
over the world"
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I think the film industry
is considered as Global
Film Industry. I do think
a lot about taking our
film industry to international
levels, but, I am still
in a very initial stage
and if I speak so much
now, people might start
thinking differently about
me. So, only my activities
should speak and not me.
But, then, when you watch
Hollywood cinemas, you
can find China having
an important place in
there. I wish Indian movies
too must have such an
important contribution
to the world cinema. We
do have capable and talented
artists, technicians and
latest technologies in
film making. So, what
is it that stops us from
reaching Hollywood? Movies
play a major role in taking
culture to an individual
all over the world and
it’s a great honor
to all of us that Tamil
culture is being appreciated
universally. So, I think
our Tamil movies should
have a great impact globally
if taken to international
levels.
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There are talks in the industry
that you have already met some
top directors like Vasanth,
Priya etc... Is that true? Are
you acting in one of their movies?
Well, it’s true that I
met them, but, I am on the verge
of finalizing a new project
with a new team. I will announce
once everything gets confirmed.
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