‘This has been my dream for last twenty years’

Ravichandran’s younger son Vikram talks about his ambitions and how he deals with the inevitable comparisons
‘This has been my dream for last twenty years’

Ravichandran, who is known to have introduced a different aesthetic in Kannada cinema through his three-decade-old career, is also a father who has silently inspired his children to follow his path and make new inroads. His younger son Vikram Ravichandran has picked Nagashekar’s Novembernalli Naanu Avalu as his debut, and it is to be made in four south Indian langauges. But the choice of film shows that this budding actor did not blindly follow his elder brother Manoranjan Ravichandan into tinsel town. Vikram is keen on carving a niche for himself and not being seen only as another son of an established actor. The production team will release the teaser of this movie on Vikran’s birthday tomorrow, and City Express catches up with him for a quick chat. Excerpts:

As an actor
Vikram sees his career in films as less of an opportunity and more of a responsibility. “I have always wanted to be in this industry,” he says. “It has been my dream for the last 20 years and I feel that I am carrying a heavy responsibility on my shoulders, there is huge expectation that I have to bear.”

The right launch
Vikram feels that Novembernalli Naanu Avalu, with its team and good technicians, is an ideal launch for him. “Working with my father in the last three films gave me the experience one would get from, say, 15 films,” he says. “Today, if people talk about my confidence, it came from my father. He shaped me, not just into an actor, but a thinking actor.”

On acting and to follow with Direction
As an actor, Vikram says that he wants to entertain audience across all age groups, “from 6 to 60 years.” The ambitious actor, who has already set his eyes on direction, says that he will apply the same thought when helming a film. “I want to learn as much as I can about the industry and apply the lessons in my direction,” he says. “Ultimately, like my dad, I would like to take the industry to greater heights.”

Comparison with Ravichandran 
He draws inspiration from both his father and his brother Manoranjan. Vikram says, “My father is an evergreen star and it feels great when people say that I look like him. But most people think that my brother bears more similarities and I only have my father’s eyes. I have more of a rugged and commercial look, and it should work well for romantic stories. But beyond appearance, people expect me to give impactful performances and make such movies. That is a challenge.” The young actor says that right now he is focussing on connecting with the audience and creating a strong foundation for himself. “I understand that I have to be careful because there is bound to be comparisons. So, even while there are many plans being made, I will only approach all of this step by step.”

Hero's Strength
While Vikram has been told that he is photogenic, the actor says that his plus point is his hair and it is his first love. “My dad has always said that a good head of hair goes a long way on screen,” he says. “Secondly, I look much older than my age and that’s an advantage. I have tried my hand at everything, being an actor, which includes acting, dance and stunts. I have been preparing for the final act, I am right now going by what a film needs and learning bits and pieces of everything. 

On Heroines
Ravichandran is known to have acted with the best heroines from this industry and from others. But Vikram says he would like the script to dictate the choice of the heroine. “If the script demands a particular heroine, I am for it,” he says. “Right now I have not decided that only a particular actress should be paired opposite to me. I want to create a reputation such that they would think it is worthwhile to work with me. I want them to feel comfortable acting with me.” 
 

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