Tuesday Sep 29 2009, Bangalore

Sudeep gets candid!

Sudeep is in news again. The actor-director recently made headlines when he sided with choreographer Harsha when the latter fought with actress Ramya. The controversy ended later when Ramya apologised to Sudeep and team.

Sudeep speaks to us about the controversy, his career and future plans in an exclusive interview to us. Excerpts:

Q) Many, who have worked with you, say you are arrogant...

A) I don't understand why people bother about whether I am arrogant or not. Many do not know the meaning of arrogance. I am not arrogant but I would like to term myself as a straight forward guy. I don't hesitate to tell others if they are wrong. If people stand on my shoes, then I would tell them for sure.

Q) Would it not affect your carrier?

A) Certainly not. Why should I worry if others call me arrogant? I have come here to do good films and not to make friends. It is important how I behave with my friends, colleagues and fans and they are happy with me. That's it and I don't want to think about what others think about me.

Q) Many in the industry opine that though you have been in the industry for many years, you have neither grown as an actor nor as a director...

A) I have acted in a film directed by Ram Gopal Varma in Hindi recently. If that is not an achievement, then what else is? If that is a leap forward, it is because of my "arrogance" and attitude!

Q) People say that you are the most unpredictable artiste in Sandalwood today as you often shift from acting to direction and vice versa...

A) I don't want to work according to the dictates of astrology. I am an actor, producer and director. I work on whatever that excites me. If I get a chance only to act, then I concentrate on acting. If something excites me, then I take up production and direction.

Q) Is it necessary for you to act in mindless commercial films like 'Gooli'?

A) Sometimes yes. If I accept such a film, it is because of the circumstances. I accepted the film because of the financial crunch I had landed in after doing a class film like 'No. 73 Shanti Nivasa'. The film bombed at the box-office and I had to incur a big loss. I incurred some more losses helping others. How do you repay all the loans? That's when I decided to close my heart and open my eyes and ears and work.

Q) What do you think is your main weakness?

A) I don't know the art of making money. One needs a perfect brain to understand the economics of cinema. Otherwise we can't earn money in all our lives.