'Acting helps one dream'

Fingers crossed

Kannada movie lovers might remember him in the cameo role of Ravi in ‘Kahi’ and as Loki in ‘Kirik Party’. He is Aravinnd Iyer, an actor who loves to explore himself with challenging scripts.

Soon to be seen in movies like ‘Bheemasena Nalamaharaja’ and ‘777 Charlie’, the actor is quite excited.

In a candid chat with Tini Sara Anien, he talks about his love for acting and his upcoming movies.

What about acting attracted you to it?

I think films are a very powerful medium. Acting helps one dream. I have seen many people come out of the theatre and walk out as if they were in a dream. People who dream for long become actors (laughs).

Tell us about your upcoming movies.

It is on the sets of ‘Kirik Party’ that I met Kiranraj K, which led to the discussions on ‘777 Charlie’. I was initially supposed to work in ‘Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu’, but that didn’t happen. After that Pushkar Mallikarjun and I were looking to work together in a project and that’s when ‘Bheemasena Nalamaharaja’ came our way. 

What was it about these scripts that made you accept it?

As cliched as it sounds, the story and the impact the story can create is what pulled me to it. Both the movies that I have signed have fresh subjects. 

Tell us more about your roles.

I play the protagonist in ‘Bheemasena Nalamaharaja’ and ‘777 Charlie’. ‘Bheemasena....’ is connected to food and a lot more, while ‘777 Charlie’ is about the bond between a man and an animal.

Are you a foodie?

I am! I love cooking and I used to cook for almost 10 people everyday when I was away from home. I come from a family of great cooks, my mother cooks extremely well and my brother, Ashwin Iyer, is a MasterChef India contestant. I am fond of good food and have travelled far and wide to taste it. I remember a time in college, when someone told me that one could get excellent ‘thatte idli’ in Tumkur and my friends and went all the way to have it.

Do you love dogs? Do you own any?

I don’t think it’s possible to work in a movie like ‘777 Charlie’ if I didn’t love dogs. I do not have pets at home at the moment because the ones we had passed on and it was heart-breaking.

According to you, what elements make for a good movie?

A good movie comes out when all sections of filmmaking do a good job. The synergy of cinematography, makeup, music and all combine to make a successful film. If any one of them falters, the final product suffers.

A role that you really want to explore... There are so many! I know that the movies I am doing are not run-of-the-mill kind of movies. I believe in content that can be sold commercially.

Three traits an actor should have...

Patience, hardwork and vulnerability.

 How hard is to be an actor?

Anybody can act, provided they have an interest in the field. Being a student of science, I learnt the dynamics of acting as an equation (laughs).