Shining Brighter than ever

This is an interview from "Deccan Herald".

'I have grown up worshiping Kamal Hassan. To receive the award from him, especially when he was also nominated, was too much to handle.'

Recently, when Surya was called to receive the Vijay TV Best Actor award for Vaaranam Aayiram, from Kamal Hassan, he came on stage and overcome by emotion, prostrated before Kamal Hassan. A deeply moved Kamal Hassan pulled Surya up and clasped him in a tight hug. The crowd went hysterical. Tears started pouring down the cheeks of veteran actor Shivakumar, Surya’s father. I catch up with Surya on location at Ramavaram, Chennai, where he is shooting for Singham.

Excerpts from the interview:

It was a touching gesture....
It was a very humbling moment. I have grown up worshiping Kamal Hassan. To receive the award from him, especially when he was also nominated, was too much to handle. I reacted spontaneously.

But what about your father Shivakumar, a popular actor himself?
Strangely, not so. Though he was in the movies, at home he is like any working parent. Sometimes, when I see his old movies, I wonder if it is the same man sitting next to me who is on-screen giving such a brilliant performance! My coming into the film world was not pre-determined. After finishing college in Coimbatore, I joined a textile company and worked. After some time, when I decided to take up acting, there were huge doubts about whether it was the right choice or not. But I jumped in and here I am today (smiles).

For a 25-film-wonder you have scaled amazing heights, both in terms of performance as well as box-office returns. How do you manage the adulation?
Thank you. I’m extremely aware that this too shall pass. But it did not happen overnight. I had my share of struggling days too. The success came slowly, step by step. I got used to it gradually. My feet are firmly planted on the ground. The film is a make-believe world, let me be in reality.

At the prime of your being an action hero you did ‘Sillunu Oru Kaadal’, essaying a married man with a six-year-old kid. That script came to Jo (Jyothika). She fell in love with the heroine’s character and wanted to do it. In fact in the beginning, there were thoughts of Jo doing Bhumika’s role and vice versa. But Jo had set her heart on Kundavi’s role, so...

Was it before your marriage?
Three days after we finished the film we got married. When the film was released, the audience accepted us as a couple and it was a success.


You once described Asin as a “hardworking Malayali.”
(Laughing) Asin and I started our career almost together. To reach where she is today has required lot of hard work. She was the original choice for Vaaranam Aayiram. We even shot the beginning train sequence and it is better than the final version. I am very happy for her.

Will Jyothika act again?
We are expecting our second child in June. She is a devoted mother. She never leaves Diya with a maid. After the second child and after the kids settle down, if Jo still wants to do films, she will be supported in every way. I always want her to comment on whatever I do. I keep her in the loop.

Is your brother Karthi a competition?
Of course! He is a very good actor. He lives and breathes films. Acting comes easily to him. He blew me away with his debut film. He was able to deliver and show people what he can do in his very first film. I know he can sustain it. He even has the confidence to discuss a script with the director.


You don’t?
I hear a narration like a common person. I should like the script at one go and I don’t like to make any corrections. I go purely by intuition.

How is it that you excel both at dance and stunts?
Not at all. Vijay is a fantastic dancer and there are better fighters than me. I just push myself to the best of my abilities. I know I need to practice dance and sharpen my stunts. But I can’t be selfish, I have to give time to my daughter and wife.


Tell us about your Agaram Foundation
My father’s Shivakumar Education Trust has been supporting meritorious students for the past 30 years. I have grown up watching students receiving scholarship from him at a simple function held at our terrace. We once had a gypsy boy called Rajanikanth whose father had died and mother had run away. When he came to receive the cheque, he asked if he could donate half of the amount to his classmates, girls, because they did not have proper skirts. That was a big eye-opener for me. I started Agaram foundation to help poor students because education is a great leveller.

You have been receiving offers from the Hindi film industry.
Yes, I have signed Rakta Charitra with Maddalcheruvu Suri. But I am content to be in Tamil. I might do a Hindi film once in a while. I had to refuse an offer from Deepa Mehta and an international period film due to prior commitments.