I am not playing a regular hero: Shivarajkumar

When you have been in the film industry for over three decades, things tend to get monotonous. Knowing this all too well,

Shivarajkumar

ensures that when he signs on the dotted line for a film, it is the story and the role that excite him. And this is what happened when he was approached by director Yogi G Raj for Jayanna Combines’

Bangaara s/o Bangarada Manushya

. Even as he is awaiting the release of this film, he is already busy on the set of his next, which is where he took some time out to speak with us. Excerpts from an interview…

What excited you about this role?
The story is not about a single person, but about many people. Although I play the hero, he is not the hero in the regular sense. The movie is about what happens when my character returns to India after having lived abroad, and what he sees in his village. He educates himself about the situation and works towards bettering it. It’s an interesting and different take.

The plight of farmers is addressed in this film, which is a relevant topic today. Is that what drew you to the film?
I got a the same feeling about this film as I did with

Chigurida Kanasu

(2003), which was all about going back to one’s roots. I’ve have been going to my father’s village since I was a child and have seen the problems that the farmers face. As an actor, I have been vocal and have taken part in strikes regarding water sharing and other such issues. It is important to stand by farmers, know what it’s like to be in their position and give them moral support. I got to do that in part through this film.

The film has a large ensemble cast and many have acted with your father. What was it like working with such a large cast?
Veteran actors such as

Shivaramanna

and Honnavalli Krishna have known me since I was a child, so it was very easy to work with them. Others in the film have a very
relevant role to play. Chikkanna and Sadhu Kokila have beautiful comedy tracks that aren’t forced. It will be a delight to watch them.

Because of the title, one tends to draw parallels with your father’s 1972 hit, Bangarada Manushya. Are there any similarities?
I don’t want to reveal anything about that, but it will all be known once you watch the film. Audiences will get to know who the bangarada manushya (golden man) is after they watch the movie.

What was the experience of working with a young director like Yogi?
For a youngster, to do a film like this is surprising. This is Yogi’s second film, so I was surprised that he approached me with such a story. He’s a good friend and a very promising director. The whole technical team consists of youngsters, who have all worked very hard. They all know where to correct themselves and since they are all working for friends, they are very careful about the outcome. That made me believe in them. I was only worried about the script, but that touched my heart. So, it was smooth sailing.

You seem to be busy with back-to-back films. Do you get to take a break?
It is good to be busy. For some roles, I am required to sport a stubble, while for others, I am required to be clean shaven. There are roles for which I need to have an arrogant air about me. So, there is a lot of variety in my films, which is very important since that is what keeps me interested in what I am doing. Otherwise, it becomes clichéd.