The world according to Abbas

Tamil actor Abbas is on a high.

His acting career started at the age of 20 with superhit Kaadal Desam. (1996), making him a rage in Tamil cinema. But the films that followed bombed at the box office.

With Kandukondain Kandukondain, he regained lost ground. Then came Aanandam, one of last year's hits in which he acted with Mammootty. Abbas’s acting was appreciated by critics.

His latest release Pammal K Sambantham has won him rave reviews.

With his first Hindi film being released in the first week of February, everything is going great for Abbas.

Shobha Warrier catches up with the friendly actor.

How did you get into acting?

Acting was not my first priority. I wanted to become an Air Force pilot. Failing that, I wanted to go in for my Masters in Business Management (MBA). But I landed in films after I was done with college.

You have been a model since your college days, haven't you?

I have been a professional model since std X. My colleagues were Suman Ranganathan, Rahul Dev, Sameer Malhotra, Rajeev Gopalkrishna and Dino Morea.

How did Kaadal Desam happen?

A friend introduced me to its director, Kadir. He told me he was looking for a new face. I started promoting my friends who were interested in acting. At the time, I didn't know Tamil and had no intention of acting in the film. But then, Kadir called and asked me to give a screen test. I did, rather sceptically. He chose me.

Why were you sceptical?

I didn't know Tamil. I was a Bangalore resident but used to converse only in English. My ability to memorise lines helped me -- I used to mug for my History exams. Being a model helped me, too. I have been facing the camera from my school days.

Do you remember your first shot?

Of course. It was a montage shot of me walking. Kadir wanted to make me comfortable and moved from lighter scenes to more difficult ones gradually. That helped a lot.

Why did you decide to continue acting? Why didn't you pursue your career as an Air Force pilot?

I didn't clear the NDA entrance examination. I had planned to enrol for an MBA after my graduation. Before I could, Kaadal Desam happened. More offers poured in after it became a hit.

I was a novice then; I had no clue how to select films. I was not serious about films then. But I started enjoying my work with Aanandam, Kandukondain Kandukondain and Hey! Ram.

What do you look for while choosing a film?

My first priority is the script. I don't want to repeat roles. I want to show the audience a different face each time they watch my film. After the script comes the director and the technical team.

In Pammal K Sambandam, you worked with Kamal Haasan. In Aanandam, it was Mammootty. How did it feel acting with such great stars?

It was a great learning experience. Actors have to be observers. That is why I observe people all the time. These observations come in handy while preparing for certain characters.

Does your popularity inhibit you from mixing with people and walking on the roads?

No, I don't believe in isolating myself from society. I don't want to lead a restricted life; I want to enjoy it. I go to theatres and snooker parlours with my friends.

I am friendly with my fans. The only change now is that earlier, I used to play cricket every day with some children. Now I don't get the time to play regularly.

I am an actor only when I'm on the sets. With my wife and children, I'm like any other man.

Do you reply to fan mail?

Yes. I scan each of my mails [abbaszap@rediffmail.com] and reply to all of them. I feel it is important for an actor. We are nowhere without fans.

Ansh is your first Hindi film. Hindi cinegoers usually do not accept South Indian heroes. What do you expect from this film?

True. When people from the Hindi film industry approached me [after his music video with Rajshri Pictures], they thought I couldn't speak Hindi because I was from the South. But I was born in Kolkata, brought up in Bangalore and have worked in Mumbai.

Many even insist that I don't look like a South Indian. Also I was clean-shaven in Kaadal Desam, when actors without moustaches are not accepted in South India. So it's nothing to do with stereotypes.

Ansh will be released in the first week of February. The films also stars Sharbani Mukherji and newcomer Kshama. It is a very serious film. I now have four Hindi films in the pipeline.

Tell us about the Rajshri music video.

I was surprised when they came to Chennai. I couldn't understand why they came to me when there were so many actors in Mumbai. They had seen the Hindi dubbed version of Kaadal Desam, and thought I fit the role perfectly.

If it were only a music video, I wouldn't have accepted it. But it had a story. Besides, the Rajshri banner was tempting.

How much have you grown as an actor from Kaadal Desam to Pammal K Sambandam?

A bit. I still have a long way to go. Of my 34 films, I liked my work in Kandukondain Kandukondain, Aanandam and Minnalae.

Photographs: Sreeram Selvaraj