Bald and handsome: Jayaram

We are used to seeing actors change their looks from time to time and their mane plays a very important part of their transformations. Slicked, spiked, side parted, combed back or trimmed very short — the audience have seen their favourite actors do this and more to get into the skin of their characters.

Most actors are obsessed with their looks and this extends to their crowning glory too. So it takes a deep dedication to their profession as well as a resolution to take their roles seriously to make them go the extra mile and go completely bald. Actor Jayaram has completely tonsured his hair for his upcoming debut in the Telugu film Bhagmati. Scheduled to commence on June 20, Jayaram does not want to reveal much about his role.

He doles out the bare minimum information, “There are three central characters Anushka, either Tabu or Raveena and me! This is my first film in Telugu and the makers wanted a different look so they decided on a fully-shaven head and a salt-and-pepper beard — the reason I went bald  is that I could get the desired look by the time the film starts.”

Asked if this look could impact his Malayalam offers, Jayaram opines, “No, I have a Malayalam film Satya after the Telugu project.” Right now Jayaram with family, wife Parvathy and children Kalidas and Malavika are in a holiday mode discovering some of the famous tourist spots in North India. The busy father and son have taken time off from their film commitments to enjoy family time doing what they all love best— travel. Jayaram is a huge travel buff and takes off to exotic travel destinations whenever time permits.

Jayaram says, “We have travelled abroad, but never seen the whole of India. This time my children highlighted this anomaly and so we decided to remedy that by visiting some famous tourist spots in India. We zeroed in on Rajasthan for a 10-day trip. Currently, we are staying at the Rambagh Palace which was once the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and from there, we are planning to visit the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.”

Jayaram is a talented wildlife photographer who has gone on various safaris worldwide to capture  animals in all their glory through his lens. This time though all of them are very excited. He says, “We are hoping to see and click photos of tigers. I have heard about the good population of tigers in this reserve and for four days, we will be staying in the forest. The reason I am excited is that I have seen and captured on film almost all wildlife, but never the elusive and shy tiger.”