‘Lucky to have worked with Ram’

Films have always interested 28-year-old Vasanth Ravi, who’s debuting as an actor with Taramani. Working with director Ram has been a great learning experience for him. “I couldn’t have asked for a better launch pad. He made me comfortable on the sets and everyone believed in the script. In fact, the present generation can relate to it,” he says. 

Vasanth met Ram through a mutual friend, when he came to Chennai from Manchester. “The showbiz bug bit me quite early in life and I have been trying to get into acting since 2010. I took up films against my family’s wish. It was difficult initially, but now it's somewhat okay,“ he says. 

He enrolled himself in Anupam Kher's Actor Prepares and later joined Rajiv Menon's institute, which helped him in overall grooming.

Quiz him more about Taramani, he’s tight-lipped. “Promoting the film and talking about it is hard for me. I want people to watch it rather than hear me talking about it. When Superstar Rajinikanth launched the audio, he liked the teaser and encouraged everybody,” he smiles.

Vasanth had a tough time living in Mumbai without knowing Hindi. “I was serious about acting. I was the only person in my batch who had auditions in Tamil. The sessions with Anupam Kher were interactive and I learnt a lot from him. Being there for about five to six months was a great learning period,” he shares.

Vasanth’s role in Taramani has many shades to it, though it’s a love story. He was asked to grow a beard for the role and he had to wait for 10 months. “I play a guy from the Cooum, who works in a call centre. The script revolves around his life and the transformation of his character,” he shares.

Having shot in and around Adyar, Besant Nagar, OMR and ECR, Vasanth came on board just after hearing a synopsis of the script. Interestingly, Ram had instructed him to ‘come blank’ to the sets. “I asked him if I had to do some homework, but he told me not to. I trusted him, throughout the shooting process. I am lucky to have worked with him,” he notes. 

For a debutant, shedding inhibitions and gaining confidence in front of the camera was a task. “Though acting workshops made me get rid of my fears, I was apprehensive on the day one of the shoot, as I am an introvert. The ‘reel me’ in this film and the real me are different. Also, shooting in the middle of the road when there were rains was no joke,” he adds.

Vasanth is not in a hurry to sign back-to-back movies. “I am waiting for Taramani’s release. Based on the audience response, I’d like to think about my next step. At the same time, I don’t want to compromise on the roles. I don’t want to play negative characters. I am clear about my priorities,” he grins.

(The piece was originally published for The New Indian Express)