In a conversation with us, actor Kishore looks back on his two-decade-long career, adding variety to his roles, the trend of south actors appearing in Bollywood films, and why delays in OTT projects getting greenlit can be harmful creatively. Excerpts:‘I’VE BEEN LUCKY, AND THAT’S WHY I DON’T LONG FOR MORE’In his film journey of over 20 years, Kishore says timing has played a crucial role. “I see the kind of talent around today, and I’m definitely not that talented. I think I came at the right time and got the right opportunities, and I survived because of the roles I played,” he says.Having witnessed strong performers struggle for meaty parts, the actor says it has shaped his outlook. “I’ve seen very good actors who haven’t been able to get good roles,” he adds, before reflecting, “I feel I’ve been lucky, and that’s why I don’t long for more. Even after 20 years, I’m still getting good work.”’I’ve been directing a film for 3 years’Kishore’s directorial debut — an experimental political satire, remains unfinished. “About 75% is done. I’m waiting to complete the rest,” he says. He admits motivation has been an issue. “Whenever I decided to resume shooting, I got a good role to act in.”‘I’M TIRED OF COP ROLES AFTER DOING SO MANY OF THEM’In Mellisai , directed by Dhirav, Kishore plays a physical education teacher — far removed from the intense roles he is known for in films like Viduthalai and Vada Chennai . “It’s about an ordinary man with unfulfilled dreams, someone bound by responsibilities and social conditioning,” he explains. Cop roles aren’t entirely behind him. “I’m playing a police officer again in an untitled thriller and in Inspector Rishi Season 2 . But yes, after doing so many cop roles, I’m tired,” he admits. He also appears in Saraswathi , directed by Varalaxmi Sarathkumar.‘I DON’T TRY TO MAKE MY ROLES DIFFERENT’Kishore believes variation should come from writing, not performance tricks. “I don’t try to make my roles different. The difference has to come from the script. The character offered to me has to be different for me to feel and act differently.”‘NOW, THERE’S A NEED TO CATER TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE’On the growing trend of South Indian actors being cast in Hindi films, Kishore sees it as a financial and cultural inevitability. “Hindi filmmakers rope in South Indian actors to reach a wider audience. Now, there’s a need to cater to a national audience,” he explains.‘OTT IS VERY MUCH A BUSINESS’While OTT platforms offer reach, Kishore feels they come with their own constraints. “OTT is very much a business. Original OTT productions are very corporate in structure,” he says. He adds that long approval cycles can affect creative momentum. “Getting a project greenlit takes a very long time. I’ve heard of big directors spending a year or two on scripts only for projects to be dropped. That’s dangerous,” he says.
