Abhishek Ambareesh debuts in films, mulls politics

The big Kannada movie release this week is Amar, and for a reason: its hero Abhishek Gowda is the son of Ambareesh and Sumalatha, well-known Kannada actors who forayed into politics.

The film was released on Friday, two days after Ambareesh's birth anniversary---he died in 2018---and a week after Sumalatha was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandya, a seat once held by Ambareesh.

Abhishek studied at BGS International School and later at Christ College in Bengaluru. He then did a master’s in international relations and democratic politics from a university in the UK. In an exclusive interview with S R Ramakrishna of DH, he discusses films, politics, and more.

DH: Given your background, where do you see yourself---in movies and politics?

Abhishek: Politics is not something you plan and enter. It's not a family business. It is something that should emerge organically. I am in the film industry. If the opportunity emerges in the future, and if the people of Mandya and Karnataka call me, then I will answer that call.

DH: What is your takeaway from your studies in the UK? Is your course relevant to politics in Manda

Abhishek: The course actually created a lot of awareness within me about the intricacies of the democratic process and international diplomacy, and how countries handle their relations. More than anything else, it taught me to respect the values of democracy.

DH: Why do you think Mandya is in distress?

Abhishek: Administrations so far have played a role in this. They were both good and bad. We are a state that has never had the cooperation of the central government. Drought is another reason.

DH: What do you see your mother Sumalatha doing in the next five years?

Abhishek: I don't want to speak for my mother. We will need the support of the government of India. It's a long process, but we will work for the betterment of Mandya.

DH: How was it to campaign against those you once considered dear friends?

Abhishek: They made a lot of personal comments about my mother, her birth, her caste, her creed, and this was absolutely not necessary.

DH: Are you still friends with Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the formidable rival your mother took on?

Abhishek: Yes, I am. I will say hello to him if I meet him.

DH: How did you prepare for Amar, an action romance whose script your father chose?

Abhishek: I did go to a lot of dance and acting classes. But, on the first day of the shooting, I realised there's a lot more to it. You learn a lot on the job.

DH: When you were growing up, were your parents strict?

Abhishek: Well, they weren't strict as such. But I had a reputation and any wrong action would have an effect on their names. So that way, I had to be careful.

DH: What's coming up after Amar?

Abhishek: A lot of upcoming projects. Another project is signed and sealed. We will announce it soon.