MY FILMS MAY HAVE FAILED,NOT ME

Despite a string of setbacks at the box office in recent years,Ganesh says he is raring to go.A chat with the Golden Star

S Shyam Prasad [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]


Ganesh,fondly called the Golden Star,of late has had to make do with a series of films that did not come anywhere closetohis'MidasTouchimage.However,this has not deterred producers from signing him up.The actor is on a roll if the number of the films in his kitty is any indication.His next film,Romeo,is creating all the right noises as he is poised to reinvent himself.Mirror hadachatwithGaneshrecently.Excerpts:

People say your days are over.Have the recent failures of your recent films affectedyou

My films may have failed,but I have not failed,personally.How the films fare at the box office is determined by a host of reasons and not just the lead actor alone.But when it comes to acting,I can say with confidence that I have succeeded in every role given to me.I will be concerned only when I cannot do justice to the role.With every director I have worked under,I have justified their confidence in me.

Veteran director S Narayan announced his retirement because his films tanked.Two of his last films Shyloo and Munjaane were with you.He blamed unprofessionalismofyoungactors ...

It is his personal issue.Hence,I cant discuss his decisions.In Munjaane,what was promisedatthestorymakingandpre-shootingstagewasnotdoneafterthat.Youcannot blamemeasanactorfordoingthatfilmorfor anything else.Directors have to do what they promise and I can do only what I promise to do as an actor in a film.

The two of you together gave one of the biggesthitsoftheindustrywithCheluvinaChittara ...

During the making of Mungaaru Male,Gaalipatta and Cheluvina Chittara,nobody expected that they would be such huge hits.It just happened.These successes have actually become a millstone around my neck as everyone expects all my films to do equallywellattheboxoffice.CheluvinaChittara became the only Kannada film to complete 100 days in all theatres it was released in.I cannot expect every film of mine to become a Mungaaru Male or a Cheluvina Chittara.My problem seems to be the eightsuccessivebighitsstartingfromChellata to Krishna.Anything less becomes a taboo subject.

Will you work with Narayan if you are approachedagain

It will not happen for the next two years at least as I have committed to many other sprojects.

IsYograjBhatataboosubject

I have never said no to working with him.I was 'Comedy Time' Ganesh before MungaaruMalemademethe GoldenStar.MMismy godfather.Yograj Bhat remains a very good director and a very good friend of mine.As they say,time has to get us back together.

Romeo is one film that is being promoted bigtime.

You have to work towards making each of your film worthwhile.If it does not give you satisfaction of having tried to make it reach the people,it is not worth it.As I said,the fate of the film at the box office is secondary.You have to work towards making it a success.Publicity for films is undergoing a tremendous change.For Romeo,the director and producers are working overtime to get thingsright.Perhapsforthefirsttime,aKannada film has a promotional song.'Belgeddeu Kapi kudi' has attained a cult status already.Itwasnotoriginallymeanttobeinthe film,but now has been included during the end credits.The song was director PC Shekar's idea.

What else will make audience come to thisfilm

We are not promising that Romeo will be a Titanic or an Avatar.It is just a sweet movie.This is one film you will want to watch again with your sweetheart.Personally,I was overjoyed working with this crew.I hope I will get to act in more characters like this.I have no doubt that Romeo will bring me a goodname.