For a favourable Raashi

From a typical Tamil-speaking Brahmin family, he came to Bengaluru in the 80s to scout for career prospects. Growing up in Karnataka, his aspirations to become an actor saw fruition with his debut venture on the small screen in Mithuna Raashi wherein he plays Mithun, a character very unlike him in real life. The serial is among the latest by Colors Kannada to hit the small screen, and actor Swaminathan shares the unexpected twists his career has taken with Bengaluru Chronicle.

“One-and-a-half years ago, I had just passed out from Sastra University in Thanjavur as a mechanical engineer. Later, I was back in Bengaluru to pursue my career as an engineer. However, there was something which always kept pushing me. When I got to know about an audition for a tele-serial through a friend, I went for it and soon I was told to submit my photos. Today, it has been more than a couple of months as an actor. I am realising my dreams,” says Swaminathan A.

Till his debut, he had no experience facing a camera and had not even done any modelling. “I was fortunate to have made it to the small screen in such a short span of time without running around from pillar to post,” he adds.

The debutant reveals that during his academics, he had been a part of several short film ventures, and that further cemented his passion to take up acting, despite pursuing a lucrative career as an engineer.

“It was roughly a year since I had started working. When I expressed my desire (to act) and the opportunity (of the role) to my family, there were obviously apprehensive. Eventually, they realised that my heart was somewhere else and supported my cause. It is completely different when it comes to work experience, unlike my fixed day job. I am enjoying all of it,” Swaminathan says.

He misses office though he doesn’t regret taking a decision to act as he loves everything about the entertainment industry. “I love discussions on the industry, its movies and making. After my morning walks at Sankey Tank, I chit-chat with my friends and get to know about the latest in the industry and then head to shoot,” says Swaminathan.

In Mithuna Raashi, he plays the role of Mithun, a very hard-working person who is obsessed with money. “He does not trust anyone other than his mother. He has built his own empire and there is no space for anything else but for money due to a reason from his past. However, in real life, I am very friendly and love to hang out with interesting personalities,” he says.

Apart from watching movies, he is always ready with his backpack to explore new places, solo.