January 29, 2012 Y. Sunitha Chowdhary
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Suresh, the tall, handsome hero of the eighties is back as a character artiste in Telugu cinema. He plays a cardiologist with panache in Rishi directed by a newcomer, is working in Kalyan Ram's 3D action film, is in the about to be released Facebook by RP Patnaik and in a Tamil-Telugu bilingual.
The actor says he never banked or has been judged by his looks and had always given two hundred percent to his work which has always benefited him. He now wants to do roles that would turn out to be negative or positive in the end or for that matter anything decent, has no qualms working with newcomers like before.
But why did Suresh leave Telugu movies all of a sudden? He says, "I was as getting inefficient producers, had a feeling that those films wouldn't get a proper exposure and proper release. It became a family dominated industry, tell me one hero who is not from a film family? Couldn't sustain myself as a hero here which is why I took a break and got into television production.
It was here that I learnt the art of producing and directing. Also I had a back problem because I was all those years I would do stunts without protective gear. After the back operation I took time to recuperate, then went for a complete make over."
Suresh's reentry in Tamil cinema with Asal was more than welcomed in 2009. He played a French cop with an interesting character that kept one guessing till the last. He adds, "After Asal I got a spate of Tamil films and I did a lot more Tamil then Telugu movies.
Our Telugu filmmakers have a soft corner for Hindi artistes. They like to spend crores on them and bring them here and ignore Telugu artistes but looks like the audience like me more than the producers. My reentry here was with RP Patnaik's Broker, now I'm into lot more Telugu projects.
A lot of artistes in Telugu are trying to work in Tamil cinema, it's advantageous because like me have known both the languages are familiar faces. I produced 'Maa Inti Mahalakshmi' and completed 600 episodes that was followed by another successful production 'My Name Is Mangatayaru'. I'm now planning to do part two..have come away from regular rona dhona serials, I'm inclined towards romantic comedy."
Ask Suresh if his son would follow suit and announce his debut soon, he has a very firm and an emphatic answer. "My son is 23 years old, doing MBA in Chicago and doesn't want to get into films. This is my 30th year in the industry, in these 30 years I must have died a hundred deaths, why make him go through the tension too?
I always wanted to go abroad and study but my father lost so much money in a film and I was compelled to look for work at 16 and that is why I came into films, the financial insecurity didn't let me go anywhere else.
The reason why I chose to stop working as a hero is that I didn't have proper producers supporting me, there was no freedom to do what I wanted to do, negative or positive. There was so much riding on the project. Prarthana and Bhavani were my own films and always wanted to do different stuff. I never look back, whatever we do we should give our best and never look back with regret. Yesterday is gone."
Suresh explains he had his head tonsured for Asal, the filmmakers showed him a picture and wanted him in that particular look and he was quite enamoured with it. He avers, "I thought when I return I should look differently, now I'm growing my hair.
I am willing to do any role that is decent and keeps me on the edge, especially love to work with newcomers as they make me feel young, have no qualms always been like that right from the beginning. They are blessed with fresh ideas. Whatever happens, happens for the best. I didn't think I will come back but it feels nice to be back in a familiar ground."
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