On my pinboard-Chiranjeevi Sarja

Sandalwood actor Chiranjeevi Sarja began his career in the Kannada film industry with ‘Vayuputra’ in 2009.

The actor has been a part of projects such as ‘Kempegowda’, ‘Varadhanayaka’, ‘Ajith’, ‘Chandralekha’, ‘Aatagara’ and the recently released, ‘Aake’.

He will also be seen in ‘Rajamarthanda’ and ‘Samhara’. He is also working on an yet-to-be titled film which explores the relationship between a son and mother.

Inspiration
Arjun Sarja

“My inspiration has always been my uncle Arjun Sarja. I have watched him work from close quarters and admire the way he strikes a fine balance between his personal and professional life. He is well prepared before every scene and never leaves anything to chance. Even today, he works hard on his physical appearance and does not compromise on his fitness regime. He has also branched out into every aspect of filmmaking.”

Music
A R Rahman

“I listen to all kinds of music, be it rock, jazz or hip hop. I, particularly, enjoy listening to the music of A R Rahman and Hamsalekha. Both have a carved a niche for themselves. I admire the way Rahman has worked his way up from a humble beginning. He has indeed made the country proud. He is today the most sought-after musician in the country. I also carry a playlist of my favourite music whenever I am travelling.”

Travel
New Zealand

“I am an outdoor person and love to be in the company of nature. When it comes to adventure, I like New Zealand the best. It is great for scuba diving and other adventure sports. I also want to go to Scotland sometime.
Closer home, I like travelling to Chennai. As a child, I remember waiting for summer vacations to arrive so that I could head to my uncle’s place in Chennai.

I have also worked there as an assistant director for a while, so Chennai is special for me in more ways than one.”

Actor
Rajinikanth

“I have watched all the movies of Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. These two individuals have an inimitable style. But I am a bigger fan of Rajinikanth. He never wears his superstar status on his sleeves. I remember how speechless I was when I met him for the first time. There was so much that I wanted to tell him but I couldn’t speak a word when I came face to face with him. That was my fan moment with Rajinikanth. He has a certain aura around him.”

Food
‘Bannur biryani’

“I am a big foodie and an experimental one at that. ‘Bannur biryani’ tops my list of favourite food. There are certain places in the city from where I order ‘Bannur Biryani’. I also like ‘mudde’ with ‘uppu saru’. This is a classic combination and I relish it as it is. I am a regular at ‘Vaishali’ in Mysuru for their non-vegetarian meal. It’s one-of-a-kind restaurant. I am also a fish person and particularly like ‘salmon’ and ‘basa’.”

(As told to Nina C George)