Shaam gets tough!

From a model in Bangalore, Shaam burst into the Tamil film scene with late Jeeva's 12B.  It was a dream debut for the actor.

He also starred in Jeeva's Ullam Ketkume which was Asin's debut in Tamil. Shaam was also the hero of Jananathan's National-award winning film Iyarkai.

Though Shaam's performance was appreciated in all his films, he didn't really make it big in Tamil.

Now, he is all set for his Telugu debut with director Surinder Reddy's Kick, which also stars Ravi Teja and Ileana in lead roles.

Shaam tells Shobha Warrier what to expect from his Telugu debut. Excerpts:

How did the Telugu film happen?

Surinder Reddy, who made Athithi with Mahesh Babu and Athanokkade with Kalyan Ram, was looking for an actor to play a cop's role in Kick. He searched the Internet and saw the stills from my Tamil film Agam Puram. He thought that I looked suitable for the role he had conceived. He wanted someone who would look tough as a cop. He then called me.

Did the call come as a surprise to you?

More than surprise, I thought someone was pulling my leg. I know Surinder Reddy is a big director. After he spoke to me, he flew down to Chennai and gave me a narration of the film. I then thought it would be nice if I could act in his film.

You said you play a tough cop in the film but your image in Tamil is that of a soft and romantic hero.

For the first time in a Tamil film [Agam Puram], I played a tough guy with a moustache. I am glad Surinder Reddy saw those pictures on the Internet.

Ravi Teja and I have equally important roles in the film. What attracted me to the role was is the film is very performance- oriented. It was a big challenge for me to play the role of a cop because it is for the first time that I am doing so. But you know something; I don't wear a police uniform throughout the film.

Why?

I am Kalyan Krishnan, an undercover cop. So, my body language and the way I speak have to be like a cop even when I am in civil dress.

Your heroine in the film is Ileana, one of the hottest actresses in Telugu...

She is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful girls I have worked with. She is a very nice, down-to-earth and co-operative.

She has also done very few films in Telugu, so her knowledge of Telugu also is not that good. But one thing I have noticed about her is this: until and unless she gets every word right, she is not satisfied. When she learnt her dialogues, I made sure that I learnt mine too.

Whose heroine is she in the film?

We have a love affair going in the first half but she will be seen with Ravi in the second half.

Is it a serious action film?

No, it is an entertaining and fun film. It has a nice package of good comedy, songs, action, and a good message in the end.

How excited are you about the film?

I have been hesitating to do Telugu films for a couple of years as I didn't know the language. I am well versed in Hindi, Kannada and Tamil. But the minute I heard Surinder Reddy narrate the story, I was charged up but I told him I didn't know Telugu at all. He told me not to worry.

Once shooting started and I spoke the dialogues, I felt it was not as tough as I expected it to be. It was quite similar to Kannada and a very friendly language to learn. I successfully finished the film.

Since you are doing your first Telugu film with such a big director, are you getting a lot of offers?

Yes. But now, I have to finish Adam Puram. I am also doing a bi-lingual Mujje Maaf Karo in Hindi and Sariya Thavara in Tamil for Faisal from Mumbai. The shooting will start by the end of May. I am also doing a Malayalam film.

I have decided to do films in all the languages.

Last time we met, you said you couldn't sleep at all on Friday nights. Will it be the same on May 7?

While doing this film with Surinder Reddy, I was never tense or worried. I knew I was in safe hands. I am a positive person by nature.