|
Actor
Ajithkumar has given an exclusive interview to the
popular Tamil fortnightly "Vasuki",
belonging to 'Dinakaran'
 Tamil Daily Newspaper group
of publications. The details:
Recently, you were forced to face serious
problems from all directions but finally you did
overcome all those odds and troubles and now you are
moving forward so majestically as a victorious hero!
In cinefield you are only the second hero after M.G.R.
to have won laurels once again after having sustained
chronic physical injuries and become bed-ridden for a
specific period of time! Would you share with us your
past experiences during those critical periods?
In the single year 1997, 5 films acted by me
were released. Every one of them, contrary to our
expectations, didn't run well! So there arose
financial problem. Producers had great jolts! At this
juncture, I too jumped into film distribution business
and thereby I myself came to face so much financial
losses! My health also got affected. Within those
particular two years I was encircled by chronic
problems like these!
Yet even amidst such cruel times I didn't loose
hope and temper and came to a firm conclusion after
much, leisurely thought!
I could say anything now about the ways in
which I handled those testing problems that stared on
my face in the past. But whenever I recall how I
managed to solve those problems bewilders me still now
to a great extent!
Only my self-confidence enabled me to win
over my bad times. I had the full hope that,
if not to-day, some other day, I would
definitely become a man of great success! For all
these things, I couldn't refute the vital truth that a
great power above me has always guided me along the
right path.
Who are all the people who have given a
helping hand to you in your times of crises?
First of all, the blessings of my father and
mother is there. Then it's the power of the prayer of
my fans and all others who appealed to God's grace on
behalf of me! If I'm in this present state of good
condition to-day, it's all only because of such
peoples' goodwill!
May 1st was my birth day. I'm starting 28th
year of my age. Even at this small age I've attained a
sea of experiences in life. One may have unlimited
happiness. But one shouldn't get exposed to chronic
problems of health and money simultaneously and at a
stretch! In fact, because of these bitter experiences
I h've come to understand so many truths I hadn't
known before! I consider all this a gift of God to me!
Do you have unlimited faith in God?
Yes. I believe that there is a force above us!
Once I have started from Mandaveli, Chennai and
reached Thiruppathi to offer prayer to God, travelling
all the way only on foot! Like this, on another
occasion, I h've covered the entire distance from
Chennai to Vaillanganni temple all by walking!
Immediately after your treatment (operation),
you have participated in continuous shooting. Is there
any impelling force behind such efforts?
When I was bed-ridden in hospital the problem
didn't end up at the level of myself alone! It also
affected the producers of the four films in which I
was then acting. Those films' works had to be stopped
half way because of my ill-health! Normally, if a
film's work is stopped, consequently as many as 60
people belonging to that film unit also get affected!
What's worse, it becomes the problem of their very
livelihood even! What a pathetic condition it would be,
if the shooting works of four films come to a
standstill suddenly, because of me? Moreover the
thinking within me that how dejected my fans may feel
and all such factors put together imbibed into me the
new spirit of energetic action that enabled me to get
through the situation so successfully! So I burried
all my sadness well into my heart and unminding of the
pains I became busily involved in my shooting
schedules!
Your are an excellent sportsperson! How is
it that you suddenly stepped into the profession
acting in films?
From my school days onwards, sports and games
had continued to be my hobby. I studied upto only 10th
std. Beyond
that I couln't show interest in studies! Next, I
worked as a mechanic in the Enfield company for 4
years. Afterwards I started my own textile business. I
met with loss!
In the meantime I was also doing modelling work!
Only through it I got chance to act in feature films.
But I didn't dream then that one day I would turn into
a filmstar! Initially, I decided to act in films and
thereby wanted to settle up all my loans first! When I
was 21 years old, my first film in Telugu and in Tamil
the film titled "Amaravathi" were released
but they didn't have a good run! Atlast, here also the
situation became critical! In the intervening period I
suffered a lot for 4 years. I accepted small, small
roles in films! Only in that way I acted as Vijay's
friend in "Rajavin Paarvaiyile". I just
showed my head in only one scene in Suresh Menon's
"Paasa Malargal". I accepted all the offers
without saying 'no' to anyone because in that way, I
believed, I could avoid people calling me 'thandachchoru'
etc. The only thinking that occupied my mind then was
that one day or other I too would definitely become a
great star in filmworld!
To-day you have become one of the leading
stars in Tamil. What price do you think you h've given
to attain this status?
I don't think I h've given any price! Yet, I
have lost my privacy! I ever like to remain an average
man! Even now I look after and fulfil my own needs
myself! I smoke atleast 16 cigarettes a day! I buy my
cigar pockets, by myself going to the shop! I don't
expect others to do this for me! Yet for the past one
month, I have completely stopped cigarette-smoking!
I don't know when I would start smoking, again!
Even now I pay visit to the
club regularly. Like this I do get myself
directly involved in such small, small affairs. And in
that way I feel to be an average sort of man. I like
that feeling.
What's your first ever victory in cinema
line?
It's the film "Aasai" that enabled me
taste very great victory. That also secured me
stability in cinefield. For that I should thank only
Vasanth sir. Only he's my Guru in the beginning days
of my career! I have got good regard and respect for
him even to-day!
Can one say that "Aasai" was out
and out your success film?
That's only Vasanth sir's film! Even in it
Prakashraj proved to be the talking point! Yet the
film that came to be the starting point of my own
successs was "Aasai". But the one in which
you could see the real Ajithkumar is "Vaali".
It's sure that "Vaali" is going to be
the one film worthy of my name; the film that's going
to change my fate! Moreover either the films I'm
presently doing or the ones I'm going to do in the
future ....all these certainly going to have the
justification of being called the films by Ajith! I
will accept only those film offers in which my role
happens to
be a befitting one! No compromise on this!
You had the guts to commit yourself to act
in one
of the two hero roles in "Unnidaththil
Yennai
 Koduththen", which no other (leading)
actor might have agreed to play. Why?
There were two reasons for me to say 'yes' to
that film. It was then 6 years since I had entered
into film-acting. Until that point I hadn't acted in
films directed by technicians of top-ranking category.
Even directors likeVasanth sir and Agathiyan were
elevated to the status of 'big' directors only now!
When I was acting in their films they weren't talked
of very 'emphatically!' Only after "Kaathal
Kottai" Agathyan became an award-winning, giant
director!
So I was having within me the long-cherished
wish to act in 'big' directors' films! Vikraman sir is
a leading director. So as soon as there was an offer
for me to act in his film I blindly said 'O.K.'!
Originally, they had different scope for that role but
since I agreed to act in it, for my sake, they even
made some changes in it's scope and concept. Next, for
very long I have remained a staunch fan of Karthik sir
since the days of my seeing such of his films like
"Mauna Raagam" and "Agni Natchathiram".
As I had chance to co-act with him in this film I
accepted it with two-fold happiness!
When you co-act with leading senior artists
do you have any feeling that your own image gets
affected in the process?
I have yet to grow up to a great level. If I
start worrying about my present image, this and that,
then such type of feelings would only mar the
prospects of my future growth and in no way would help
me attain healthier development!
( His answer for the question, whether he has
any ill feeling that his image gets affected when he
teams with big level artists of high stature,
continues as follows:)
As far as I am concerned I follow a particular
principle very strictly: In front of the camera I
consider all who act with me only as my competitors!
The artist whom I team with may be the one whom I like
most or an artist of very great stature, yet I prefer
to treat him only as my competitor! I would always vie
for outshining him in acting! I won't worry about my
image and this and that!
Both Vijai and Prashanth are my good friends.
Yet, if I happen to act with them I would definitely
try to outwin them in acting. For that matter, even if
my parents or brothers happen to act with me in front
of the camera, I would definitely treat them as my
competitors!
You have acted in "Unnaiththedi"only
after the operation (medical treatment). Yet, in the
song scenes of the film, you have done each and every
movement of yours very beautifully and gracefully!
How?
Only
after my first operation I participated in "Unnaiththedi"
songs shooting and dubbing work. Each and every scene
whose shooting work was completed at that time, bears
the mark of my sweat and hardwork.
After my 2nd operation, I acted in "Vaali".
It took 1 year 8 months of hard work and great pains
on my part to complete this film. Definitely this
picture would become a super-hit!
Generally, I always share
my happiness with all the people. But when it
comes to my sorrows, I have never given vent to them
outwardly and explicitly! Even if I get
injured, I won't make any hue and cry or create
scenes! Instead I would simply go and sit quietly in a
room, keeping myself aloof!
What are all the films you are doing at
present?
I'm now acting in the following films: "Aanada
Poongaatrae", "Nee Varuvaai" which I'm
doing in combination with Parthiban sir, in Charan
sir's direction "Amarkalam"
which is also my 25th film, under the direction of
Rajiv Menon in "Kandu Konden, Kandu Konden"
and the one I have committed recently, namely "Mugavari"!
I'm of the view that I should hereafter act in
three films a year. I will select good subjects and
commit in them accordingly!
Generally it's said that your relationship
with the press people isn't that much normal....Why?
It isn't that I hate all the press persons. I
codemn only those who write ill of me and focus on my
personal life!
It's only natural that the fans become
curious to know about leading artists like you! Isn't
it so?
That's true. But it's only too much when they
spy on me to know at which (odd) hour I return home,
wherever I use to go and at what time I take my food
etc., etc. Are all these informations really necessary?
Generally, I'm a short-tempered person. If I'm
not so, then people would try to climb on me and sit
upon my head! Cine field is like that!
You can ask whatever information about me or my
work....I would definitely answer. But even my parents
shouldn't try to know about my personal
affairs...Nobody has the right to do that. I don't
like such things as these!
More than any other young hero, it's only
you who gets implicated in so many gossips...Do you
refute, on your part, all such rumours?
You yourself call it 'gossips'! Gossips mean
only rumours and nothing more!
Gossip doesn't mean rumour. It means what's
told secretly into one's ears! It means secret news!
Do you welcome such news?
Among those news items you refer to, only a few
are true. All others are created in peoples'
imagination. The problem becomes serious when people
totally unconnected with me are linked with me in
gossips! So not only myself but also all those who are
falsely implicated with me get affected ultimately! I
wish other peoples' names shouldn't be spoiled using
my name!
An actress has recently made a complaint
against you saying that you have cheated her. Won't it
be better had you avoided at the beginning stage
itself such unhealthy relationships?
So far I haven't abandoned anyone so uncaringly!
Had I behaved like that, I can't be alive at all even
after the 9 surgeries I have undergone now! Yet for
that matter I won't also say that I'm an innocent guy!
Instead of myself telling anything about that
actress who has given an interview to the press
talking ill of me, if you could enable yourself to
mingle with the members of her family, then it would
be easier for you to get a first-hand knowledge of the
facts involved! There's not even the least kind of
real affection (on their side).
They had only commercial plans as to how they
could come up in life exploiting me. That's why I
myself got away from them. On the other hand I always
respect womenfolk. There's no examples in history to
show that those who don't know how to respect women
have flourished in their lives!As for me, I don't wish
to spoil anyone's life!
How is your relationship with actress Hera?
It was there formerly. Not now! Friendship
between two people concerns with their two hearts!
Both of them should wish that their relationship
should continue. Instead, if they move with me
expecting something else, then nothing but tensions
develop in the relationship! It's possible that within
two months period, the parties concerned could be able
to assess whether the relationship between them is
mutually agreeable or not! I'm forced to come out of
all such relationships
that seem to be unworthy of pursuing further!
Do you have any friends who could be termed
your dear most ones?
When I found myself entangled with serious
problems like FEFSI-Creators' Union dispute etc. the
one person who remained always at my side extending
his fullest support to me was producer-cum-dearest
friend Chakravarthi. As Ibrahim Rowther-Vijayakanth is
there as a telling model of ideal friendship,
Chakravarthy and myself also remain so! Only he
produced "Raasi" in which I
acted. But that didn't run well. Hence I acted
freely (without salary) for him in his new production
"Vaali".
Whom would you term as the most comfortable
director to work with, as far as you are concerned?
I feel comfortable while I do films under the
direction of either Charan, who directed "Kaathal
Mannan" or Surya who is the director of "Vaali".
Not only that I'm of their age but also that both of
them know fully well about me!
Both know how to bring out the (potential)
talents which are inside me and have also understood
how to control me!
Do you have any intention of directing films
apart from acting?
Presently I have got great interest in the
technical side. But don't intend to direct.
You have already indulged in doing film
distribution business! When are you going to be a
producer?
I would never jump into the profession of film
production. Yet I'm unable to state the reason for
that! But I tell definitely...I won't indulge in film
production at all!
 Whom would you include in the list your
favourite women?
In politics I like Indra Gandhi. I too like the
the 'soft-acting' of Jayabadhuri (wife of Amitap
Batchan). In Tamil, Radhiga is my favourite actress!
Who's
your favourite among the present-day actresses?
I like Shalini's acting. In those days when she
appeared on the screen as a child artist she was very
much endowed with childish shrewdness. To-day's
Shalini astonishes all of us with her well-groomed
maturity of mind and modesty of behaviour as she
appears on the screen! I like to-day's Shalini too!
But when we co-act with her (in film), we need to be a
little more careful ...For if we remain slack, even
for a brief time, she would definitely overtake us in
terms of good acting!
Ramba, Simran and Roja too could be included in
the same category!
Ramba's activities outside cinema would seem to
be like those of a child. But the same Ramba when she
stands before the camera gets converted into exactly
the opposite type of person! She would take great care
to depict different emotions beautifully! Simran and
Roja also are like that! They always have the passion
to overtake others in acting. They remain expertly
professional!
When are you going to get married?
I don't have any preplan about my marriage. The
only aim I'm having now is to become a leading actor.
I wish to get, in the future, the same position Rajini
is enjoying now (in industry).
You have born on the World Workers'
Day...ie. on May 1st. What about your relationship
with them?
I myself have started my career only as a
worker. I worked as an apprentice in Enfield Company
for 4 years. I feel extreme happiness to celebrate
combinely both the World Workers' Day as well as my
own Birth Day!
Source :
"Vasuki"
The
popular Tamil fortnightly
"Dinakaran"
Group of publications
9th
June, 1999
|