Dad makes final decision for Nikhil

Nikhil Kumaraswamy says that he does not intend to use cinema as a stepping stone to politics

Nikhil Kumaraswamy seems to be in no hurry to make countless films or rush into politics. Two years after his debut film ‘Jaguar’, the actor’s second venture, ‘Seetharama Kalyana’, is set to release on January 25.
Nikhil says that he never finalises a script without his father H D Kumaraswamy’s nod. Adding that there are no political overtones to his career in movies, he says that films and politics are different.
In an interview with Metrolife, Nikhil talks about the making of the film and why his father’s views are important to him.

What took you so long to make ‘Seetharama Kalyana’?

‘Jaguar’ was praised for its technical brilliance. We had a strong technical team and we wanted to return with the same technical finesse in ‘Seetharama Kalyana’. My father has given many family hits such as ‘Suryavamsha’ and ‘Chandra Chakori’ in the past. And we haven’t seen a good family entertainer in the recent past. ‘Seetharama Kalyana’ is a commercial film with a strong social message.

How different is your character from what you did in ‘Jaguar’?

There’s more maturity in this character. This film delves into the deep bond shared between a father and son, man and woman. What we have attempted to portray in this script is pure love as it existed in the past. We have added social elements because we feel a sense of responsibility for providing not just entertainment but also offer a film with a strong message.

How is it to have your father select your scripts and mother produce your films?

Since my father has his hands full, I have handled the entire production. It is a big responsibility when you come from a family of filmmakers. Our main motive is to get back more than what you invest in a film.

What kind of subjects do you like working on?

I know that I have to be responsible when I select a script. I have always drawn inspiration from Dr Rajkumar’s films. He worked on subjects that remained in people’s hearts for a long time. I appeal to people to look at my films as an independent product and as a work of art rather than attempt to add any political colour or flavour to it.

Why do you feel your films and politics are being mixed up?

For the following and responsibility that my family commands, I should ideally be in politics. I am in the film industry because I am passionate about cinema. I know that I am swimming against the tide, but I wish to contribute something substantial to the film industry.

How do you cope with the pressure and negativity?

I prefer to stay positive and put my efforts into whatever I am doing. I have nothing to worry about because I have no intentions of using cinema as a stepping stone to enter politics. The two have different relevance in my life.

Do you watch a lot of offbeat films?

I do watch them whenever I can take some time off work. I would love to work on a classic subject someday. Though my audiences are the commercial sort, I still want to bring in performance-oriented themes into the commercial realm.

Has your father produced any films after becoming the Chief Minister?

No. Work has kept him busy so I have taken over the reins of our home production. My father is always the final decision maker when it comes to finalising my scripts. But I don’t want him to get so involved in my films and give out an impression that he is spending more time on his son to build his career than anything else. My father’s passion for cinema will always remain.

How do you manage to render complicated dialogues so effortlessly?

The biggest test in this regard was in ‘Kurukshetra’. I would write down the dialogues on paper and enact them in front of the mirror. I took a lot of effort because I had to say these dialogues before Ambareesh sir and Darshan. And I had to be sure.

Are you preparing for a career in politics?

Talks are still on and I think it is too early to make a comment.