My Ambitions Are Still Fresh, Will Play Only Central Characters, Says Sarathkumar

R Sarathkumar, who was recently seen essaying powerful roles in Thalapathy Vijay's Varisu and cop thriller Por Thozil is unstoppable in his latest innings. He's signing back to back films, but is very clear about his career ambitions.

In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, the R Sarathkumar talks about his experience working with Mani Rathnam in Ponniyin Selvan and Vijay in Varisu while spelling out his expectations to sign a movie.

Here are excerpts from the interview.

You are on a roll after your sabbatical. Didn't you miss the camera?

Well, this is my profession and It would be a lie if I said I didn't miss the camera. But I wouldn't say it's a total sabbatical. I did stay away because my political activity took prominence. Then I thought, in this age of technology, you can be relevant in the political arena too by using your social media handles and then having a couple of appearances in a month would do. So, I started accepting movies as the profession which gave me my bread and butter was films.

You played a tough cop in Por Thozhil. Did you expect to receive such stupendous response to the movie?

Yeah, I played a tough cop, a very interesting character, because he had a past and he was abused during childhood and, the character of Loganathan seemed arrogant, but he is clear and sure about what he does, and a dedicated worker. I definitely didn't expect such a stupendous response. But I did know that director Vignesh Raja will make a mark. I knew this would be a successful film, but I never expected such response because the audience owned this film across the globe and, they didn't leave any spoilers. So that was a great success which was unexpected.

Your role in Varisu (Varasudu) was pivotal. How was it working with Vijay?

When Vamsi narrated Varisu script to me, I realised how pivotal was Rajendran's character, without which the story loses relevance. And that definitely was a turning point as it gave me exposure to the next generation of audience like Vijay’s audience. when I worked in Kanchana, I still remember children calling me Kanchana uncle so I started becoming irrelevant in every character I started doing. It was great working with Vijay, who's a total professional with no airs about him.

How did Ponniyin Selvan happen

I worked in Vaanam Kottatum, directed by an associate of Mani Ratnam. I also worked in Kitty's Dasarathan produced by Maniratnam's Alayam productions. I would see Maniratnam coming to the sets only once. But in Vaanam Kottatum, I saw him visiting the sets couple of times. So, I would wonder, but did not give it a deep thought. But later on, he called me and said that I will be playing Periya Pazhuvettarayar in Ponniyin Selvan, which was a pleasant surprise and I was really happy to work with Mani.

After your experience in PS, why do you think Maniratnam is on every actor's wishlist?

Well, working in Maniratnam's film, I would say, it's a landmark where actors are concerned. Because Mani is very knowledgeable and very clear and he means business and he deeply researches whatever he wants to do and very dedicated to his work. Of course, all the directors have to be the same, but Mani has got a special rating, I would say, among the stars and definitely working with him was a pleasant experience. And the way he narrates a scene, the way he tells us to perform and things like that, I really loved working with Maniratnam.

OTT has opened up a whole new audience for movies, do you think filmmakers need to churn out content keeping in mind all sections of audience?

Yes. The audience for OTT is from across the globe. That is very good for the cast and crew of the entire film industry and the actors and technicians alike as they have a great exposure now to the platform and people of other languages do watch it. So you're being watched and you're being seen, which is a very big advantage for everyone concerned in the film industry. And filmmakers must take into consideration the taste of the OTT viewers when making a movie because it becomes a very big market now.

Filmmakers tend to typecast actors once they see audience have loved them in a certain role. How do you pick roles not to repeat characters?

Well, I certainly had the same feeling. See I am doing four films as a cop. It happened, not because of Por Thozhil. I accepted these characters because it is a different kind of cop role in Criminal with Gautam Karthik which Dhakshina Moorthy Ramar is directing. Hitlist is directed by Vikraman who gave the biggest hit in the South Indian industry Sooryavansham in which Amitabh ji acted in Bollywood. Vikraman called me and said his son had to be introduced and I gladly accepted and Ravikumar my other director said he will be the producer to the film in which I play a very tough cop. Then The Smile Man helmed by Malayalam director Praveen. It’s about a guy who loses memory and still has to get the serial killer. So, all the films that I'm doing are cop movies, but entirely different in character. But I do feel in the back of the mind, that I may be repeating my characters. So maybe if I can plan the releases, it will be better. And Nana with Sasikumar is again a cop story. But Aazhi directed by Kerala’s Madhav Ramdasan is not a cop story. It is very interesting subject set in the ocean. Then there’s Mr X and Vishnuvardhan which is being shot in Portugal (Lisbon) where I am right now, then there’s Vishnu Manchu movie which will be shot in New Zealand. There are 4-5 cop stories coming up. But like I said, the sentiments are different. And then I'm also working in Parampara Season 3 for Hotstar.

How true are the rumours of Por Thozhil sequel? Is it really on cards?

Yeah. It's not a rumor at all. Por Thozhil, Vignesh has started writing. Maybe, he'll be doing some other film in between, but he will come back to the sequel once he gets the right subject in his mind. He is very clear and meticulous in his planning and by October next year. Maybe Por Thozhil 2 will be on. We can do many more such films in the investigation genre like Sherlock Holmes and Watson

In one of the scenes in Por Thozhil, the audience almost expects you to laud Prakash when he has a breakthrough, but you refrain from commenting with a plain clinical look. Was that deliberate on the part of the writer to not give away the plot to the audience

Yes.. in that one scene, where all of us are working and he finally comes up with an address and I look at it, I keep the paper in my hand and look at him. In the back of mind, I really want to appreciate him, but in the eyes I give the final look which very clearly said yeah, you have done a good job man. Not bad. My sister after watching the movie said, Sarath, you could have said well done over there. But it was the way the scene was narrated to me he said I should not say thanks but say that with my look. So, that's how it came and it really worked out well.

Tell us about working with Ashok Selvan?

It was really nice working with Ashok Selvan. He is a very dedicated guy with a lot of plan for the future and he's got his height and the physique and definitely is a dedicated actor, who has already got the USP of selecting good scripts.

You are a family of actors. What do you discuss at the dinner table?

Well, Radhika and me, we don't discuss films at home unless it is essential that we need to have an opinion. Of course, Varu (actress Varalaxmi) does tell us about her movies because we are little concerned about what she does so that she can keep being relevant in all her films and improve her performances, by leaps and bounds by selecting different kinds of characters and performing varied roles throughout her career. We are happy that she's adapted into being an actor than a star.

You have a good connect with the Telugu audience too. Can we expect to see you in any Tollywood movie soon?

Yes, I have a good connect in Telugu. Of course I'm doing a cameo for Anil Ravipudi-Balayya film, Bhagavanth Kesari and other subjects I'm listening to. Mohan Babu's production with Vishnu Manchu is one such Telugu film.

There are many father and son movies happening. Are you planning a movie with Radhika and Varu?

I'm just looking for characters like Denzel Washington and Liam Neeson and John Wick so Gautham Menon is working on it. I'm not looking at father's characters. We are looking at different genres of films. I'm not going to play a character artist. I'm still vying to grow and my ambitions are still very fresh in my mind to reach the top, so I'm selecting movies. If they want me to play a father, it should be the hero of the film. Then I will accept, otherwise no. Me, Radhika, and Varu, we are doing a film. It is called Keda Sandai—‘ram fighting’ set in a village backdrop. The subject is ready, we're waiting for all our dates to match. I have a line-up of movies-Criminal, Nana and Paramporul, a cop story due for release on September 1. But I am planning my film releases to ensure people don't get bored with my cop roles.

Are you open to web series on OTT?

Yes, I have done the Hotstar web series—Parampara S1 &S2. The makers are planning season 3. Yes. I'm open to work pan India—East, West, North and South, any content that needs me. I have also done a cameo in a top Bollywood star movie, which the makers will announce.