I feel at home in the commentary box, says actor Kiran Srinivas

For actor and television presenter Kiran Srinivas, the commentary box offers something cinema rarely does — the freedom to simply be himself. Though he has spent years in Kannada cinema, Kiran says he truly found comfort when he moved to Mumbai and began working as a cricket commentator and presenter. “I finally felt at home. I’ve played minor cricket leagues and genuinely love the game. Speaking in colloquial Kannada feels completely natural in the commentary box,” he says. Kiran reveals that despite repeatedly receiving offers from Kannada television, fiction never interested him. Commentary, on the other hand, gave him a space where personality mattered more than performance. “I’m glad regional-language commentary has grown so much because it bridges the gap for non-English-speaking audiences. The work offers flexibility, diversity and, most importantly, it allows me to be myself on screen,” he says. That sense of self-awareness, he says, has shaped every aspect of his career — including the kind of roles he chooses in cinema. Even at the start of his acting career, despite a promising launch with Preetham Gubbi after the success of Mungaru Male, Kiran says he knew conventional stardom was never his goal. “I never wanted to give the impression that somebody can mount a film purely on my name,” he says candidly, adding, “Cinema is both a responsibility and a business. The moment you attract attention, there’s a huge responsibility that comes with it.” Rather than aspiring to larger-than-life heroism, Kiran says he connected more with performers like Anant Nag and Ashwath, even while deeply admiring icons like Dr Rajkumar and Dr Vishnuvardhan.Kiran recalls feeling deeply uncomfortable when a fight sequence was written for him in Haage Summane. “Preetham Gubbi realised that, more than a fight, I’m the kind of person who would talk his way out of a situation. Thankfully, they rewrote the scene and dropped the fight sequence,” he reveals. “I’m not your archetypal hero who needs songs or grand introduction scenes. I know what I can carry off and what lies beyond my bandwidth,” he says. This clarity also drew him to director PC Shekhar’s Mahaan. “My character has shades beyond black and white, and I’m excited to explore that space,” he says.Reflecting on the Kannada film industry, Kiran says the ecosystem was far more welcoming to newcomers when he debuted. Filmmakers like Yogaraj Bhat and Suri were introducing fresh faces, while actors like Yash, Diganth, Chetan and Sathish Ninasam emerged during that phase. Films such as Mungaru Male, Duniya, Gaalipata and Moggina Manasu proved that fresh actors and strong storytelling could still draw audiences. Kiran says, “Today, big producers are focused on mounting large-scale films. Fewer small films are being backed, which naturally makes it harder for newcomers to find opportunities. Hopefully, that changes for the better soon.”