Authenticity is magic: Santosh Shobhan

The actor, who is making a comeback three years after his debut with this week's release, Paper Boy, talks to Cinema Express about what he was up to so far 
Authenticity is magic: Santosh Shobhan

Deja vu is how Santosh Shobhan describes facing the camera for the first time in his life. The actor who is gearing up for the release of his second film as lead, Paper Boy, tomorrow has always known that this is where he belongs. “I remember telling my friends when I was in the second year of college in Bengaluru, that I would drop out if I get an opportunity, and as it turns out, I did,” reminisces Santosh.

While his first film Thanu Nenu, which tanked at the box office, came about when he was 19 – Paper Boy is coming out three years after he was last seen on the silver screen. “Honestly, it is because no one hired me,” he frankly admits, adding, “Paper Boy was an audition I had given two years ago. In fact, our executive producer Murali Mamilla believed in me when no one else did. I was working all through these three years, but the films were not coming out. It’s finally happening and I am excited about it.”

He also admits that a lot has changed since. “When I first faced the camera I was extremely confident, brinking on arrogance. But the gap has really calmed me down and has put me in my place,” he says.

The 23-year-old also shares that he put a little bit of his own research into the role he plays in the film. “I met hawkers and actual paper boys early in the morning, in various places, like Krishna Nagar and Langer House, and spent time with them just to get acquainted with their lives before playing Ravi. It’s not a method, but to do that adds authenticity and authenticity is magic,” says Santosh.

The actor is often recognised because of his late father Shobhan, known for directing Varsham in his time. This gave him access to the industry and Santosh has no qualms acknowledging this. However, he adds, “I believe that whatever I have come to become is because of a single mother who worked hard to bring us up. But because of the goodwill that my father has garnered, people within the industry are really nice to me, even though he hasn’t been around for 11 years. It is certainly a privilege I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t his son and I will never take that for granted.”
 

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