Chocolate boy to action hero, I want to keep exploring: Shaam

As an actor, we must keep exploring ourselves. Since my debut in 12B in 2002, up until 2006, I had the chocolate-boy image. I am a romantic at heart, so I naturally took up projects on those lines. But later, I wanted to shed that image and make a mark as an action hero. Post 2007, I tried to break the monotony and was lucky enough to be cast in the 2009 Telugu film, Kick, starring Ravi Teja.The movie turned the tables for me and there was no turning back. People could finally see the action hero in me during this phase. I have taken up several performance-oriented roles in the past two decades, including the Kannada film, Tamanam Tananam. With several platforms, we have so much space and scope to experiment. I am looking forward to taking up versatile roles where my potential is explored.

I also met my wife here in college (laughs)! Bengaluru will always be close to my heart. During my school and college days, I stayed at Frazer Town. Also, I am a Josephite, which makes me a 100 per cent Bengalurean! My Bengaluru days were filled with fun and fond memories. I keep visiting the city and meet up my college buddies. We go out and explore street food together. We hang around our school too sometimes. Every time I come to Bengaluru, it is mostly like a nostalgic ride. Of late, I have a new-found reason to come to Bengaluru – Kichcha Sudeepa. We met during CCL a few years ago and our bond has become stronger than ever. He is my friend, brother and family. If I am feeling low, he is the first person I reach out to. Sudeepa breathes cinema and our bond is very special. We discuss everything under the sun! We have been discussing a multi-starrer film for a long time, I hope it materialises soon! It will be an honour to work with him, if that project takes off. He is so dedicated and the effort he puts for every scene is amazing.

Yes! I have acted with Ramya-Rakshita in Tananam Tananam, with Yash in Santu Straight Forward. My last Kannada film was AMR Ramesh’s Game. I loved both KGF and Kantara. I called Yash and congratulated him. Kantara’s climax blew my mind! Also, I have accompanied Sudeepa to several Kananda films and release-related events. I would love to do more Kannada films because this is where I come from.

I was supposed to reprise my role in Kick in the Bollywood remake. But that didn’t happen. Now, with OTT giving us a new avenue and films being made in all languages, I am sure I will become a part of a project where the entire country will take notice of me. Pan-India is a wonderful thing that happened to the industry. We are all finally getting the recognition we all deserve!

My debut happened in 2000 in an uncredited role in Thalapathy Vijay’s film, Khushi! What a journey it has been so far, for both of us! I met him on the sets of Khushi and he was so nice and humble. I called him the next superstar of Kollywood and he just laughed it off! Look at him today, ruling hearts even after so many years. He does not use a phone on the sets and there are no rehearsals! He just comes on screen and weaves magic. His no-mobile phone policy was a great learning exercise for me!
I play a pivotal role in Varisu and I finally got an opportunity to know him up, close and personal. The film is a wholesome entertainer with the right dose of commercial aspects because you know the kind of fans Vijay has. I have several important scenes with him. There was tremendous scope for me to perform and I hope this project will turn the tide and help me get to where I want to belong in my career. I am now looking forward to getting into complete action genres. I am also looking at becoming a full-fledged hero, again.

OTT will only grow bigger in the coming days and I am not in a hurry. If any interesting project comes my way, why not?