'I've always wanted to be an actor'

Actor Anup Revanna neither sounds nervous nor excited when he gets talking about his debut release ‘Lakshmana’. That’s because the young man is confident about his launch vehicle for which he has been preparing for the last two years.

Anup says acting was for him a childhood calling and he worked towards it from his younger days. He trained at ‘Koothupattarai’, a prominent Tamil theatre group in Chennai, and dabbled with a bit of theatre at Ninasam Theatre Institute before he could say that he was ready to be an actor. Anup takes time off to share with Nina C George his expectations from his debut project.

 Are you nervous about your debut project?

It’s a mixed feeling. But I am definitely anxious to know the outcome of the film and how the audience will react to the movie. I’ve waited to be an actor all this while and finally when I’ve achieved my dream, I am waiting to know how people will accept me.

You have been working towards becoming an actor...

As a child, I always liked the fights and action sequences on television and someday, I wanted to do the same. The desire to be an actor began when I was barely five-years-old. But I didn’t want to simply get into the film industry without knowing the basics. So, after working in theatre, training in dancing and learning a bit of martial arts, I decided to enter the film industry.

Did you pursue a course in acting?

I never believed in going to an acting school to learn how to act because acting can never be learnt. It has to come from within. You can’t be taught to act, speak and behave in a particular way. If one has it in themselves to be an actor, then one has to work towards giving that art a form and expression.

How was it acting alongside V Ravichandran?

I had heard that Ravichandran sir is very strict and extremely disciplined and I found him to be an extremely dedicated actor. He is the biggest plus point for our film. Working with Ravichandran sir was indeed a wonderful learning experience. Actor Meghana and I too shared a good rapport which is reflected onscreen.

Do you think your father’s political background helped you get into the film industry?

I’ve worked towards being an actor, not a politician. I’ve never used politics as a way to get into acting.

Do failures put you off?

Disappointments and failures are a part and parcel of life. It may sound cliched but I believe that failures are a stepping stone to success.