Ganesh washes his hands off 'Munjaane'

Gandhinagar has been buzzing about how Golden Star Ganesh has been MIA. The actor isn���������t seen at industry events and has not been speaking to the media for a while now.
���������I didn���������t want to be a part of any controversy, so I avoided talking to the media. I don���������t like to be unnecessarily involved in a feud. I���������ve always believed in answering at the right time and not reacting on an impulse,��������� reasons Ganesh.
As for not being seen at filmi events, he claims that it is because he���������s committed to acting and not socializing. ���������When people want to catch up, they come to my shoot location. For me, it���������s more important to be seen onscreen than off it,��������� says the actor.
But rumour mills suggest that Ganesh is hurting because his recent films have tanked and because of director S Narayan���������s public statement that his Ganesh-starrer Munjaane failed because the actor did not promote it.
Narayan even announced his retirement when the film bombed. ���������I accept that Maduve Mane flopped, but Shyloo did decent business. Munjaane was the director���������s film. If it failed, it���������s because he didn���������t keep up to his promise. What I was told during the narration and what I saw onscreen was different. Even while shooting for the film, I told Narayan that something was amiss, but it fell on deaf ears. Ultimately, if a film fails, it���������s only the actor who���������s blamed,��������� says Ganesh.
As for Narayan announcing his retirement, Ganesh feels that it���������s a personal choice. ���������How can I be held responsible for his decisions? I���������ve never spoken ill of him. When we did Cheluvina Chittara and it minted money, I was paid peanuts. Did I bad mouth him then? Narayan has given big hits, too. Maybe his recent ones haven���������t done well. He���������s the better judge of his life and career. Who am I to talk about it? But as an actor, I���������m not going to take responsibility for the failure of Munjaane,��������� he asserts.
The conversation veers to the actor���������s own directorial venture Kool, which didn���������t dazzle at the BO either. ���������Yes, people rejected Kool. I don���������t know where we went wrong. Perhaps because the film was in the making for a long time. But that hasn���������t discouraged me from taking up direction again,��������� says Ganesh.
As for speculations that his popularity has taken a beating, Ganesh refutes it. ���������I have had several successful films, so the failure of three films won���������t affect my popularity. I was at my peak a while ago, but it���������s impossible for an actor to only have highs and not see lows,��������� he observes.
The offers too haven���������t dwindled, he adds. ���������I have hope in the young directors I���������m set to work with next ��������� Shekar with whom I have Romeo and another with Abhay Simha,��������� he signs off.