I am like Wake Up Sid’s Ranbir Kapoor, says Vivek

When filmmaker A Narasimhan was persuaded to watch the Tamil hit Engaeyum Eppothum by his son, he had no clue that he would be paving the way to launch his son Vivek in Kannada films. “I saw the film first and absolutely loved it and then told dad to watch it. He too was impressed and was keen to buy the remake rights, as he had not made a film in almost a decade.But then we realized that filmmaker K Manju had already procured the rights and had to get him to part with it, which we did eventually,” says Vivek, who will make his debut with the Kannada version called Endendu Ninagaagi.
Interestingly, though, despite getting his dad to buy the remake rights, Vivek says that he was not the first choice as hero. “My dad was looking at various options and it was only after director Mahesh Rao came into the picture that a suggestion was put forth that I should be launched through this film,” says the young actor, who until then was just helping with the family business after struggling through college. And why not, one would wonder. Vivek is, after all, the nephew of veteran Kannada actor Crazy Star V Ravichandaran, who sports an uncanny resemblance to his famous uncle, including his curly locks. The filmi connection, though, is not very deep rooted. “I have very rarely met Ravi mama, in fact, I am scared of him. I am closer to his sons. My dad shares a good relationship with Ravi mama — he even produced Putnanja in 1995 — and once mama was told that I was being launched, he suggested that I go take the same acting classes his son Manoranjan was taking. That apart, I have never really been affected by his stardom and popularity. So, now when people talk about me as his nephew, it is a little unnerving, as I know that comparisons will be drawn. But then, I have to live with that and hope that audiences will eventually see the actor in me,” says Vivek.
In Endendu Ninagaagi, the young actor is paired with Deepa Sannidhi, who he says was a great co-star. “Personally, I am a very shy guy, who doesn’t talk much, which, perhaps, comes from being the youngest of four siblings and an only brother to three sisters. Deepa understood that perfectly and would take charge of our scenes together and do all the talking,” laughs the young actor. His shy nature apart, Vivek admits that he is also quite pampered at home, especially by his sisters, two of whom had accompanied him to his interaction with us. “I am very close to my sisters, so much so that if anything happens in my life, I tell them first and they convey it to our parents. In fact, even when I was in a relationship some time ago, I told my sisters about it. They are very protective about me. They also think that I am like Ranbir Kapoor in Wake Up Sid, which I am inclined to agree, but I think this movie has changed me,” he says, adding that one of the advantages of having sisters is that he has great skin. “Their cosmetics and skin care products are all tested on me,” he laughs.