‘I never plan my future, I have never planned a political career’

Despite hailing from the biggest political family in Karnataka, he has resisted being part of the political crowd. He says he is indifferent to political equations in his family and has never given serious thought to the issue of where he should place himself. ‘Mama's boy’ Mr Nikhil Kumar a la Nikhil Kumaraswamy has a down to earth approach as he was brought up among middle class people. He has stayed away from his father's politics and pitched in only when either Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy or mother Mrs Anitha Kumaraswamy needed him. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, this third generation of the Gowda family says he has never planned his future. At the moment, it is cinema and he has not thought of entering politics. If the question arises, he would take a decision in future.Excerpts from an interview:

From my childhood, I was more attached to my mother. I studied in schools where mainly children from middle class families were admitted. First it was Carmel school and later I was shifted to Clarence school when we changed house. It was a normal childhood like in any middle class family. Till I completed class 10, nobody treated me differently. So, I was happy with my friends. When I entered college, I could feel the difference. But it did not change much.

It is cinema.... From my childhood, I have seen my father as a film producer. I used to accompany him to film premieres too. I was attracted to movies from my childhood. My mother is completely in charge of the media business. I managed it for only two and a half years, when my mother was busy with politics. After that, she is completely back in charge of the business. I have never given serious thought to politics. Though my entire family is in politics, it has never really sunk into me.

I never plan my future. My father wanted me to act in movies and he expressed the desire a decade ago. However, no one can enforce their wish on me. One fine morning, I woke up and told my father that I wanted to act in movies. It all started with that. I never felt anything like that about politics.

I don't know what is in store for me in future. As I told you, I never plan my future. I don't even plan for the day. I take life as it comes and how it guides me. As far as politics is concerned, I read it in newspapers for my general knowledge. I will let time decide what I should become and in what I am good at. Presently, I am concentrating on my movie.

Yes... there were. When my father contested from Chikkaballapura Parliamentary constituency, he could not give much time to the campaign. He is the main pillar of the party and he had to tour the entire state, campaigning for other candidates.

At that time, I went to Chikkaballapura to manage the campaign. Once I was there, party workers started dragging me to Bengaluru Rural district, Mandya and other places. You know how it is, when you are with party workers. Barring that, I have never thought of being part of any political movement.

Well... Even today, I am indifferent to political equations in my family. I told you that I never plan my future, I have never planned a political career. Under such circumstances, I have never thought of placing myself in the loop of family politics. I don't mean to say I will never enter politics in my entire life. As I told you, I don't plan anything and leave it to time. I neither admit, nor deny entering politics, as it will be decided by time and not me. But, no one can force me or influence me to get into politics.

First, the character itself is about stealth, a heavy hunter kind of thing. Besides, it is made in two languages, we needed a common name. We could not have two names for the movie. When I revealed the name of the movie to my friends, they thought I was naming it after the Jaguar car. I had to tell them that it was an animal. Big people like Mr Puri Jagannath, Mr Vijayenda Prasad, Mr Mahadev are involved in making the movie as well as tuning me for the movie. It is going good.

Next movie.... When people with my background enter the movie world, people don't take us seriously. They think that it would be a platform for launching me into politics. But, it is not the case. Soon after shooting is completed, I will start working on my next movie. I am here to stay for a long time in the movie world.