Ganesh Venkatraman gets candid

���His experience in Hollywood came handy during the shooting���
On his Role in Unnaipol Oruvan
I play Arif Khan, an officer in the ATS, played by Jimmy Shergill in the original. He is a clever cop who tries to solve problems in an unconventional manner. It was quite a challenging role and I had to sport a beefy look and undergo rifle and hand-to-hand combat training to suit the character.But what excited me most about the role was that it was modelled on brave officers like the late ATS chief Hemant Karkare. It gave me an opportunity to salute the valiant officers of the police force.��
On director Chakri and composer Shruti Haasan
Director Chakri is a patient man and must say, a big asset to the team. I struck an instant chord with him. His experience in Hollywood came handy during the shooting and he co-ordinated well with the team. As for Shruti Haasan, she is the new face of music. She is talented and will go a long way in her career. It���s good to see so many youngsters coming up in different fields today.��
Bollywood plans
Not any as of now. I am in no hurry. Even though I am based in Mumbai, my priority will always remain Tamil cinema. It was my launch pad and marked my entry into the industry. So, my focus is only on Tamil. ��
Working with Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal��
It was indeed a dream come true to work with the industry���s greats like Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal. Kamal sir has always been a big inspiration and when I met him during the first schedule, I was awestruck by his preparedness and dedication. Mohanlal is humble and down-to-earth. I play his blue-eyed boy in the film. Before one of our shots, Mohanlal came to me, adjusted my collar and said ���Handsome, get ready to go.��� I ran short of words and couldn���t stop blushing.��
His take on Single hero projects
I always consider myself as an actor rather than a hero or star. Considering the fact that I come from a non-acting background, I am glad that I am able to satisfy my thirst for learning. I want to explore cinema and do strong characters. I do not want to take up every role that comes my way. I may be capable of doing romantic roles, but at the same time, let me tell you that I will make a convincing villain too.��
About Unnaipol Oruvan
As for Unnaipol Oruvan, I think it���s a must watch film as the subject revolves around one of the most serious threats the nation is facing today. It is a film that���s been shot in high definition mode and has a great star cast. Don���t miss it!��
Check out Ganesh Venkatraman���s pics